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GPA Calculator

Turn your letter grades and credits into a weighted 4.0 GPA.

Weighted GPA
4.00
US 4.0 scale
Total credit hours12
Total quality points48.00

Worked examples

4 courses: A (3cr), B+ (4cr), A- (3cr), C (3cr)
Quality points are 12 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 6 = 42.3 over 13 credits, so the GPA is 42.3 ÷ 13 = 3.25.
4 courses: A (4cr), B (3cr), A- (3cr), C (2cr)
Quality points are 16 + 9 + 11.1 + 4 = 40.1 over 12 credits, so the GPA is 40.1 ÷ 12 = 3.34.

How your GPA is calculated

Your grade point average is a credit-weighted average of your grades. Each letter grade maps to a number of grade points on the US 4.0 scale, and each course counts in proportion to its credit hours.

The formula is:

  • Quality points (per course) = grade points × credit hours
  • GPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hours

So a 4-credit A is worth 4.0 × 4 = 16 quality points, while a 3-credit B+ is worth 3.3 × 3 = 9.9. Add every course’s quality points, divide by the sum of all credit hours, and round to two decimals.

Grade to points

Letter gradeGrade points
A+4.0
A4.0
A-3.7
B+3.3
B3.0
B-2.7
C+2.3
C2.0
C-1.7
D+1.3
D1.0
D-0.7
F0.0

A worked example

Say you took four courses: an A worth 3 credits, a B+ worth 4 credits, an A- worth 3 credits, and a C worth 3 credits. The quality points are 4.0 × 3 = 12, 3.3 × 4 = 13.2, 3.7 × 3 = 11.1, and 2.0 × 3 = 6. That is 42.3 quality points across 13 credit hours, giving a GPA of 42.3 ÷ 13 = 3.25.

Weighted vs unweighted

This calculator gives a weighted GPA, meaning higher-credit courses pull the average more strongly. An unweighted GPA would treat all four courses above as equal and simply average their grade points. Because most degree programs weight by credit hours, the weighted figure is the one that usually appears on a college transcript.

Why scales differ

The 4.0 scale here is the most common one in the United States, but details vary. Some schools drop plus and minus grades, some award 4.3 for an A+, and many high schools add bonus points for honors or AP classes. Treat the result as a close estimate and confirm the exact policy with your registrar or student handbook.

Tips for improving your GPA

Because GPA is cumulative, early grades set a baseline that later terms adjust more slowly. Focus effort on high-credit courses, since they move the weighted average the most, and check whether retaking a class replaces or merely averages the original grade.

Frequently asked questions

How is GPA calculated?
Each letter grade is converted to grade points on a 4.0 scale, then multiplied by the course credit hours to get quality points. Add up the quality points for every course, add up the credit hours, and divide the first total by the second. That weighted average is your GPA. Scales and rounding vary by school, so check your registrar for the exact method they use.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA treats every course equally, no matter how many credits it carries. A weighted GPA multiplies each grade by its credit hours, so a 4-credit course counts more than a 1-credit course. This tool calculates a credit-weighted GPA. Note that some high schools use the word weighted differently, to mean extra points for honors or AP classes.
What are credit hours?
Credit hours (sometimes called units or credits) measure how much a course counts toward your degree, usually based on class time per week. A typical lecture course is 3 or 4 credits. Because a weighted GPA multiplies grades by credits, higher-credit courses have more influence on your final number.
How can I raise my GPA?
Earn higher grades in your remaining courses, especially high-credit ones, since they move the weighted average the most. Retaking a course can help if your school replaces the old grade rather than averaging both. Because GPA is cumulative, each new term shifts the average less as your total credits grow, so improving early has the biggest effect.
Do plus and minus grades count?
On most US 4.0 scales they do. An A- is worth 3.7 and a B+ is worth 3.3, for example, so pluses and minuses nudge your GPA up or down. Some schools ignore them and score every A as 4.0, every B as 3.0, and so on. This calculator uses the common plus/minus values, but confirm your school's policy.
Is an A+ higher than 4.0?
On a standard unweighted 4.0 scale, no. An A+ is capped at 4.0, the same as an A, which is what this calculator uses. Some schools do award 4.3 for an A+, and honors or AP weighting can push a high-school GPA above 4.0. Scales vary by school, so check yours if the A+ value matters to you.

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Last updated: 2026-07-01