How to use the GPA calculator
- Add each course with the letter grade you earned or expect to earn.
- Enter the credits (or credit hours) for each course. In high school, most full-year classes count as 1 credit; in college, most classes are 3 or 4.
- Choose the level: Regular, Honors or AP/IB. This only affects the weighted GPA.
- Read your unweighted and weighted GPA on the right. Both update as you type.
How GPA is calculated
Each letter grade is worth a set number of grade points. Multiply each course's points by its credits to get quality points, add them up, and divide by your total credits.
Credits matter because a 4-credit course affects your GPA more than a 1-credit course. An A in a 4-credit class adds 16 quality points, while an A in a 1-credit class adds 4.
Worked example
English A− (3.7 × 3) + Calculus B+ (3.3 × 4) + Biology A (4.0 × 4) + U.S. History B (3.0 × 3) + Spanish A (4.0 × 3)
= 11.1 + 13.2 + 16.0 + 9.0 + 12.0 = 61.3 quality points ÷ 17 credits = 3.61 unweighted GPA
Calculus is AP (+1.0) and Biology is Honors (+0.5), which adds 6.0 quality points: 67.3 ÷ 17 = 3.96 weighted GPA.
Weighted vs. unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale for every class, so an A is always 4.0. A weighted GPA rewards harder classes: many high schools add 0.5 points for Honors and 1.0 for AP, IB or dual-enrollment courses, so an A in AP Calculus counts as 5.0.
Colleges see both numbers on many transcripts, and many recalculate GPA using their own rules. Report the one your school puts on your transcript, and use the other for comparison.
GPA scale: letter grades to grade points
| Percent | Letter | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| 97–100 | A+ | 4.0 |
| 93–96 | A | 4.0 |
| 90–92 | A− | 3.7 |
| 87–89 | B+ | 3.3 |
| 83–86 | B | 3.0 |
| 80–82 | B− | 2.7 |
| 77–79 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 73–76 | C | 2.0 |
| 70–72 | C− | 1.7 |
| 67–69 | D+ | 1.3 |
| 63–66 | D | 1.0 |
| 60–62 | D− | 0.7 |
| Below 60 | F | 0.0 |
What is a good GPA?
- 3.7 and above is mostly A's and is competitive for selective colleges and honors programs.
- 3.0 to 3.6 is a solid B-plus average and meets most scholarship and program minimums.
- 2.0 to 2.9 is a C to B− average. Many colleges require at least a 2.0 to stay in good academic standing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Convert each letter grade to grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0 and so on), multiply by the course's credits, add the results, and divide by your total credits.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses the 4.0 scale for every class. Weighted GPA adds extra points for harder classes, usually 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, so it can go above 4.0.
Is an A+ worth 4.0 or 4.3?
Most schools cap an A+ at 4.0, but some award 4.3. Tick the A+ option if your school uses 4.3.
Do pass/fail classes count toward GPA?
Usually not. Pass/fail and credit/no-credit courses earn credits but no grade points, so leave them out of the calculator.
How many credits is a high school class?
Most U.S. high schools give 1 credit for a full-year class and 0.5 for a one-semester class. Some use 5 or 10 credits per class. Use whatever your transcript shows; the GPA comes out the same.