Quick answer
Cumulative GPA is total grade points divided by total credits. A 3-credit A and a 1-credit C do not count the same: the A pulls your average more because it carries three times the weight. Enter each course above, pick your school's scale, and read your cumulative GPA. Target mode shows what average you need next term to hit a goal.
How to use this calculator
- Choose your GPA scale: US 4.0, US 5.0 weighted, 10-point, or percentage.
- Add a row for each course with credit hours and the letter or numeric grade.
- Use the target GPA mode if you know your current GPA, credits completed, goal GPA, and credits next term.
- Read cumulative GPA and total credits. In target mode, read the required next-term average.
- If the required average exceeds your scale's maximum, the goal is not reachable in one term on that scale.
The formula, with worked examples
GPA = sum(grade points x credits) / sum(credits). On the 4.0 scale, A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0, with plus and minus steps in between (A- is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, and so on).
Example 1: five courses on the 4.0 scale. Biology 4 credits, A (4.0) = 16.0 points. History 3 credits, B+ (3.3) = 9.9. Math 4 credits, B (3.0) = 12.0. English 3 credits, A- (3.7) = 11.1. Gym 1 credit, A (4.0) = 4.0. Total points 53.0, total credits 15, GPA = 53 / 15 = 3.53.
Example 2: target mode. You have a 2.8 GPA over 60 credits and want a 3.0 by 75 credits (15 credits next term). You need (3.0 x 75 minus 2.8 x 60) / 15 = 3.8 next term. That means mostly A's. If the tool shows "not reachable," the math exceeds a 4.0 (or 5.0 weighted) ceiling in one semester.
Weighted vs unweighted in US high schools. Honors and AP courses often add +0.5 or +1.0 on a 5.0 scale depending on the district. Colleges frequently recalculate without weighting for admission. Check your registrar's policy before you assume a weighted number travels unchanged.
Letter grades to grade points (4.0 and 5.0 weighted)
| Letter | 4.0 scale | 5.0 weighted | Typical percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | 5.0 | 93 to 100 |
| A- | 3.7 | 4.7 | 90 to 92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 4.3 | 87 to 89 |
| B | 3.0 | 4.0 | 83 to 86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 3.7 | 80 to 82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 3.3 | 77 to 79 |
| C | 2.0 | 3.0 | 73 to 76 |
| D | 1.0 | 2.0 | 60 to 69 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | below 60 |
Percent bands vary by school. Use your syllabus cutoffs when they differ.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cumulative GPA across semesters?
List every course with its credits and final grade, not semester GPAs averaged together. Averaging semester GPAs ignores credit weight (a 4-credit F hurts more than a 1-credit A helps). This calculator sums all grade points and divides by all credits for a true cumulative figure.
What is a good college GPA?
Many employers treat 3.0 as solid and 3.5+ as strong for new graduates. Graduate programs often want 3.0 minimum with 3.5+ competitive. Context matters: major difficulty, school, and work experience count. A 3.2 in engineering is not the same story as a 3.2 in an easier curve.
Do pass/fail classes affect GPA?
Usually pass/fail courses are excluded from GPA if you pass. A fail may count as F at some schools. COVID-era policies varied. Read your catalog or ask the registrar before you assume P/F is invisible.
How do colleges treat weighted GPAs?
Many colleges recalculate using unweighted 4.0 and only core academic subjects. A 4.8 weighted high school GPA might recalc to 3.9. They care about course rigor separately. Send the transcript; they will apply their own rules.
Can I raise a 2.5 to 3.0 in one semester?
Only if you have few credits on the books. With 60 credits at 2.5, one 15-credit term at 4.0 gets you to about 2.8, not 3.0. Run target mode with your real numbers. Big jumps need many strong credits or few prior credits.
What GPA do I need for Dean's List?
Most US colleges use 3.5 or higher on 12 or more credits per term, but the cutoff varies. Some use President's List at 3.75+. Check your school's academic standing policy.
Formula and sources
Formula: GPA = sum(grade points x credit hours) / sum(credit hours).
Sources:
Written by Raja Jahangir. Reviewed by Armghana Zeeshan. Last updated: June 30, 2026.