GPA Calculator
Calculate semester GPA, cumulative GPA, or project your future GPA with the What-If tool.
The GPA calculator converts letter grades and credit hours into a semester GPA, cumulative GPA, or projected future GPA. It supports both the standard 4.0 scale and the 4.3 scale used by some universities that award A+ grades. The What-If GPA tool lets students model how planned courses will affect their overall academic standing before registering.
Add your courses for this semester to calculate your GPA.
How to Use the GPA Calculator
- 1Choose your GPA scale — 4.0 (standard) or 4.3 (used by some universities that award A+ as 4.3).
- 2Select a tab: Semester GPA to calculate one term, Cumulative GPA to combine multiple semesters, or What-If GPA to project future changes.
- 3Add each course by selecting the letter grade and entering the credit hours.
- 4Click Calculate GPA to see your result with a visual progress bar and performance label.
- 5For What-If: enter your current cumulative GPA and credits earned, add planned courses, then click Calculate New GPA.
Worked Example: Semester GPA
Three courses on the 4.0 scale: an A in a 3-credit course, a B in another 3-credit course, and an A- in a 4-credit course.
| Grade | Points | Credits | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | 4 | 14.8 |
| Total | 10 | 35.8 |
Semester GPA = 35.8 ÷ 10 = 3.58. Each grade's point value is multiplied by its own credit hours before anything gets divided — a 4-credit A- pulls more weight than a 3-credit B, which is exactly what you'd expect since it represents more of your workload.
Worked Example: Cumulative GPA Across Semesters
Cumulative GPA combines every semester into one number, but it isn't a simple average of your semester GPAs — it's weighted by how many credits each semester actually carried.
| Semester | GPA | Credits | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 3.20 | 15 | 48.0 |
| Semester 2 | 3.60 | 15 | 54.0 |
| Total | 30 | 102.0 |
Cumulative GPA = 102.0 ÷ 30 = 3.40 — the midpoint between 3.20 and 3.60 here only because both semesters carried the same 15 credits. Change the credit loads and the midpoint shifts too.
Common Mistake: Averaging Semester GPAs Instead of Weighting Them
A frequent error is treating cumulative GPA as (Semester 1 GPA + Semester 2 GPA) ÷ number of semesters. That only works when every semester has identical credit hours. Consider a 3.0 GPA earned over 12 credits followed by a 4.0 GPA earned over just 3 credits (say, one short summer course). A naive average gives (3.0 + 4.0) ÷ 2 = 3.5. The correct, credit-weighted calculation is (3.0 × 12 + 4.0 × 3) ÷ (12 + 3) = 48 ÷ 15 = 3.2 — three tenths lower, because the lighter semester simply can't outweigh the heavier one. Always weight by credits, not by semester count.
You might also need
Frequently Asked Questions
How is GPA calculated?
GPA is calculated by multiplying each course grade (on a 4.0 scale) by its credit hours, summing all those grade points, then dividing by total credit hours. For example: an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course earns 12 grade points.
What is the difference between semester GPA and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers only the courses taken in a single term. Cumulative GPA averages all your coursework across every semester, weighted by credit hours completed.
What GPA do I need for the Dean's List?
Most universities require a 3.5 or higher GPA for the Dean's List, though requirements vary by institution. Some schools require a 3.7 or a 4.0.
What is a 4.3 GPA scale?
Some high schools and colleges use a 4.3 scale where an A+ is worth 4.3 instead of 4.0. This allows top students to exceed a 4.0 GPA. The rest of the scale (A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, etc.) remains the same.
How do I use the What-If GPA calculator?
Enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits earned, then add the courses you plan to take with your expected grades. The calculator shows your projected new cumulative GPA immediately.