Free GPA Calculator
This free GPA calculator converts your letter grades into a credit-weighted grade point average on the standard US 4.0 scale. Just enter each course's grade and its credit hours, and it returns your GPA instantly. It uses the common unweighted scale (A = 4.0), so courses with more credits count proportionally more toward your final number.
- Total credit hours
- 10
- Total grade points
- 30.00
Unweighted 4.0 scale. GPA = total grade points ÷ total credit hours.
Quick answer
Your GPA is the sum of (grade points × credit hours) for every course, divided by the total credit hours. Each letter grade maps to points on the 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0, with +/- in between). Example: an A in a 3-credit course, a B in a 4-credit course, and a C in a 3-credit course gives (4.0×3 + 3.0×4 + 2.0×3) ÷ (3+4+3) = (12 + 12 + 6) ÷ 10 = 30 ÷ 10 = 3.0 GPA. Because the average is weighted by credits, a high grade in a heavier course moves your GPA more than the same grade in a lighter one.
Formula & method
Credit-weighted GPA
GPA = (g1·c1 + g2·c2 + ... + gn·cn) / (c1 + c2 + ... + cn)
- gi — grade points for course i on the 4.0 scale (e.g. A=4.0, B-=2.7)
- ci — credit hours for course i
- n — number of courses included
Quality points (per course)
quality points = grade points × credit hours
- grade points — the 4.0-scale value of the letter grade
- credit hours — the number of credits the course is worth
The calculator first converts each letter grade you enter into its grade-point value on the standard US 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so on down to F = 0.0). For each course it multiplies that grade-point value by the course's credit hours to produce "quality points." It then adds up the quality points from all of your courses and divides that total by the sum of all the credit hours. The result is a credit-weighted average, which means courses worth more credits have a proportionally larger effect on your GPA than courses worth fewer credits. The final number is typically displayed rounded to two decimal places.
Letter grade to grade points on the standard US 4.0 scale
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Examples
- Input
- A (3 cr), B (4 cr), C (3 cr)
- Result
- GPA = 3.00
- Why
- Convert to grade points: A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0. Multiply each by its credits to get quality points: 4.0×3=12, 3.0×4=12, 2.0×3=6. Sum the quality points: 12+12+6=30. Sum the credits: 3+4+3=10. Divide: 30 ÷ 10 = 3.00. The B counts most because it is the heaviest 4-credit course.
- Input
- A- (4 cr), B+ (3 cr), B (3 cr), C+ (2 cr)
- Result
- GPA = 3.19
- Why
- Grade points: A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, C+=2.3. Quality points: 3.7×4=14.8, 3.3×3=9.9, 3.0×3=9.0, 2.3×2=4.6. Sum: 14.8+9.9+9.0+4.6=38.3. Total credits: 4+3+3+2=12. Divide: 38.3 ÷ 12 = 3.1917, which rounds to 3.19.
- Input
- A (3 cr), A (4 cr), F (3 cr)
- Result
- GPA = 2.80
- Why
- Grade points: A=4.0, A=4.0, F=0.0. Quality points: 4.0×3=12, 4.0×4=16, 0.0×3=0. Sum: 12+16+0=28. Total credits: 3+4+3=10. Divide: 28 ÷ 10 = 2.80. Even with two A's, the failed 3-credit course still counts toward the denominator, pulling the GPA down by more than a full point from a perfect 4.0.
When to use this tool
- Computing your semester or cumulative GPA from a report card or transcript before final grades post officially.
- Running 'what-if' scenarios — seeing how a target grade in a heavy course would raise or lower your overall GPA.
- Checking eligibility for scholarships, honors, athletics, or graduate programs that require a minimum GPA threshold.
Common mistakes
- Averaging the letter grades directly (e.g. treating A, B, C as 3.0) instead of weighting each by credit hours. A simple average only matches the GPA when every course has the same number of credits.
- Forgetting that an F still counts in the denominator. A failed course contributes 0 quality points but its credit hours remain in the total credits, so it lowers your GPA rather than being ignored.
- Using the wrong scale — entering grades as if A=5.0 (a weighted/AP scale) or assuming a plain A+ equals 4.3. This tool uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale where A and A+ both cap at 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
This calculator computes an unweighted GPA on the 4.0 scale, where the highest possible grade is 4.0 regardless of course difficulty. Note that 'credit-weighted' here means each course is weighted by its credit hours — that is standard. A 'weighted GPA' in the AP/honors sense uses a 5.0 scale that adds extra points for advanced courses, which this tool does not do.
How do plus and minus grades affect my GPA?
On the standard scale, a plus or minus shifts the grade points by 0.3 (with a few exceptions). For example A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7. An A+ is typically capped at 4.0, the same as an A, and most schools do not assign an F-minus.
Does a failing grade (F) count in my GPA?
Yes. An F contributes 0.0 grade points, but its credit hours are still added to your total credits. That means a failed course actively lowers your GPA — it is not simply skipped — until it is retaken or replaced under your school's repeat policy.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA across multiple semesters?
Add up the quality points (grade points × credits) from every course across all semesters, then divide by the grand total of all credit hours attempted. You can do this here by entering every course at once, rather than averaging your individual semester GPAs, which can be inaccurate if semesters have different credit loads.
What GPA do I need to graduate or make the Dean's List?
It varies by institution. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is a common minimum to graduate, a 3.0+ is often required for honors programs, and Dean's List thresholds are frequently 3.5 or higher. Always confirm the exact requirement in your school's official catalog or registrar's office.
Should I include Pass/Fail or audited courses?
Usually not. Pass/Fail, credit/no-credit, and audited courses typically do not carry grade points and are excluded from GPA calculations at most schools, even though Pass courses may still count toward credits earned. Check your registrar's policy, and leave those courses out of this calculator if they are GPA-exempt.
Sources & references
- U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
- University of Minnesota — How to Calculate Your GPA (Office of the Registrar)
External references open in a new tab. We are independent and not affiliated with these organizations.
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ No sign-up required
- ✓ Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
- ✓ Formula and method shown above
Provided “as is” for general information only — results may be inaccurate, so verify before you rely on them. No warranty; use at your own risk.
Built and reviewed by HIFreeTools against the formula shown above and any authoritative references cited on this page. See our methodology and editorial standards.
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