What is GPA and why does it matter?
Grade Point Average (GPA) is a single number that summarises your academic performance across all of your courses, weighted by credit hours. In the United States the most common scale is 0.0 to 4.0, where each letter grade maps to a number of grade points. A semester GPA tells you how you did in one term; a cumulative GPA (sometimes called CGPA) averages every term across your degree.
Universities, scholarship boards, and employers all use GPA as a shortcut for academic ability. A 3.5 GPA usually qualifies you for the dean's list, 3.0 is the typical cut-off for graduate programs, and 2.0 is the minimum to remain in good academic standing at most US schools.
How to use this GPA calculator
- Pick your input mode: Letter grade (A, B+, etc.) or Percentage.
- Enter the name of each course (optional) and its credit hours.
- Select your letter grade or type your percentage score.
- Click + Add course for every additional class.
- Read your live GPA in the green box at the bottom of the calculator.
US 4.0 GPA scale reference
| Letter | Percentage | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66 | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62 | 0.7 |
| F | 0–59 | 0.0 |
Tips for raising your GPA
Because GPA is credit-weighted, a low grade in a 4-credit course hurts twice as much as the same grade in a 2-credit course. Focus your study time proportionally. Re-taking a course (when allowed) can replace the old grade in your transcript and noticeably shift a cumulative GPA.
Avoid overloading your schedule until you know how heavy each course will be. Use this GPA calculator at the midpoint of every semester to see your current trajectory and adjust before the final exam.
Cumulative vs semester GPA
A semester GPA averages only the courses in a single term. A cumulative GPA averages every credit-hour you've completed. For a true cumulative GPA, run this calculator with all of your courses across every semester, or use our dedicated cumulative GPA calculator.
Frequently confused: GPA vs CGPA vs percentage
GPA usually refers to the US 4.0 scale. CGPA is more common in India and Pakistan and may be on a 4.0, 5.0, or 10.0 scale depending on your university. To convert your CGPA to a percentage, use our CGPA to percentage tool. To convert a CGPA to a US-style GPA, see CGPA to GPA.
Bookmark allgradecalculator.com — it is the fastest free GPA calculator on the web, with no ads in the calculator area, no sign-up, and accurate results based on the standard 4.0 scale.