How GPA is calculated
Each grade is turned into grade points, multiplied by the course's credits, and the total is divided by the credits you attempted:
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
Take three courses: Calculus, 4 credits, A (4.0); Physics, 3 credits, B+ (3.3); and Writing, 3 credits, A− (3.7). The grade points add up to 4 × 4.0 + 3 × 3.3 + 3 × 3.7 = 37.0. Divide by 10 credits and the GPA is 3.70. A 4-credit course moves your GPA more than a 1-credit lab, which is why credits matter as much as grades.
Letter grades and grade points
Most US colleges use this scale. Schools differ on two points: whether A+ is worth 4.0 or 4.3, and whether D− exists. Change A+ in Settings if your school gives 4.3.
| Letter | Points | Percent (common) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 (4.3) | 98–100 |
| A | 4.0 | 93–97 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90–92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 80–82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 70–72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | — |
| D | 1.0 | 60–69 |
| D- | 0.7 | — |
| F | 0.0 | 0–59 |
A+ is 4.0 at Berkeley and 4.3 at Cornell. The percent column is the 93/90/87 scheme Columbia’s School of Professional Studies publishes; your syllabus may use 90/80/70 instead, so enter letters when you have them.
What counts and what doesn't
- Pass/fail (P, NP, S, U, CR, NC), withdrawals (W) and incompletes (I) give or keep credits but carry no grade points, so they are left out of the GPA. The calculator lists how many credits it skipped.
- F counts as 0 grade points with its full credits, so it pulls the GPA down.
- Retaken courses depend on your school: some replace the old grade, some average every attempt. Pick the rule in Settings; give both attempts the same course name.
Cumulative, major and last-two-years GPA
To get a cumulative GPA without retyping old semesters, tick “Include credits from earlier semesters” and enter the GPA and credits from your last transcript. The calculator weighs them together with the new courses.
Star (★) the courses in your major to get a separate major GPA. Many graduate programs also look at the last 60 credits, roughly your last two years. Once you have more than four semesters, the results show the GPA of the last four.
Studied outside the US?
Switch the grade format to Percent for 0–100 transcripts. For Chinese transcripts the results show every common Chinese scale side by side: WES, Peking University, Fudan, USTC, SJTU and others. Other countries have their own pages under Convert grades.
Questions
Is an A+ worth 4.0 or 4.3?
At most US colleges an A+ is 4.0, the same as an A. Some schools, including several in Canada and a few US universities, give 4.3. Your transcript legend says which one your school uses.
Do pass/fail classes affect my GPA?
No. A pass earns credits but no grade points, so it does not change the GPA. A failing grade in a pass/fail class (NP or U) is also left out at most schools, while a letter-graded F counts as 0.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA?
Multiply each semester GPA by its credits, add the results, and divide by the total credits. In this calculator, either add every semester or enter your previous GPA and credits under “Include credits from earlier semesters”.
Why is my GPA different from the one on my transcript?
Check three things: the A+ value, how your school handles retakes, and whether transfer credits count. Many schools count transfer credits toward graduation but leave them out of the GPA.
Is my data saved?
It is saved only in this browser (local storage) so you can come back later. Nothing is sent to a server. “Copy link” puts your courses into the link itself, so only share it with people you want to see them.
Sources
- UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar, Grades and grading (A+ = 4.0; P, NP, I excluded): registrar.berkeley.edu/academic-records/grades-grading (checked 2026-11-06)
- Cornell University, transcript key (A+ = 4.3): registrar.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/BACK_PDF%20for%20web.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- Columbia University School of Professional Studies, grades (percentage bands): sps.columbia.edu/students/student-advising-academic-success/academic-policies-procedures/grades (checked 2026-11-06)