Calculator
Add courses, set credits and grades, then calculate GPA.
Example Data
This sample shows how credits and grades convert into quality points.
| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition | 3.00 | A- | 3.700 | 11.100 |
| Calculus I | 4.00 | B | 3.000 | 12.000 |
| Intro to Psychology | 3.00 | B+ | 3.300 | 9.900 |
| Term GPA | 3.333 | |||
Formula Used
- Quality Points (per course) = Credit Hours × Grade Points
- Term GPA = Σ Quality Points ÷ Σ Included Credit Hours
- Cumulative GPA = (Prev Credits × Prev GPA + Term Quality Points) ÷ (Prev Credits + Term Credits)
- Replacement (optional): subtract Old Attempt Credits × Old Attempt Grade Points from cumulative quality points.
Grade points depend on your selected scale. Use numeric points if you need an exact institutional mapping.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose a grade scale or switch to numeric points.
- Add each course, enter credit hours, and select a grade.
- Mark any excluded courses (pass/fail, audits, non-GPA items).
- Optionally add previous credits and previous GPA for cumulative results.
- Press Calculate GPA. Your results appear above the form.
- Use Download CSV or Download PDF for records.
Credit-hour weighting improves fairness across courses
GPA is not a simple average of grades. Credit hours act as weights, so a 4-credit course influences results more than a 1-credit lab. This calculator multiplies each course’s credit hours by its grade points to produce quality points. It then divides total quality points by included credits. The approach reduces distortion when workloads vary across a semester. A common full-time load is 12 to 18 credits, so one difficult 4-credit course can shift a term GPA by 0.10 or more.
Letter and numeric grading systems can be compared
Many institutions use letter grades with fixed point values, while others publish numeric point equivalents. Switching to numeric points helps match local policies, plus-minus variations, and honors or weighted scales. Use numeric entry when syllabi or transcripts list exact points, or when conversion tables differ by department. If your scale awards A+ above A, numeric points capture that difference precisely for planning.
Cumulative GPA planning benefits from historical inputs
Academic decisions depend on cumulative standing, not only the current term. By adding previous credits and a previous GPA, you can estimate an updated cumulative GPA. For example, 45 previous credits at 3.12 equal 140.40 quality points. If the term adds 10 credits at 3.33, cumulative credits become 55 and the cumulative GPA becomes 3.16. Entering last term’s totals from your portal reduces errors versus reconstructing grades from memory.
Repeat and replacement rules change the outcome
Policies for repeated courses vary. Some average attempts, while others replace the old grade in cumulative calculations. The replacement option subtracts the old attempt’s quality points, leaving the new attempt already counted in the term. Enter the replaced credits and the old grade points to model how the policy can raise cumulative GPA efficiently.
Exports support advising, scholarships, and audits
CSV export is useful for spreadsheets, while PDF export creates a shareable report for advisors or applications. The calculated table shows credits, grades, exclusions, and quality points, helping you validate inputs quickly. Keep one report per term to track improvement trends and verify targets before registration decisions. PDF reports are helpful when deadlines require documentation of GPA changes across terms.
FAQs
1) What counts as “excluded” in this calculator?
Excluded items are courses that should not affect GPA, such as pass/fail, audits, or non-credit activities. They remain visible in the table for recordkeeping.
2) Why does a 4-credit class change GPA more than a 2-credit class?
Credit hours weight the calculation. Quality points are credit hours multiplied by grade points, so higher-credit courses contribute more to the total and influence GPA more.
3) When should I use numeric points instead of letter grades?
Use numeric points when your institution publishes exact point equivalents, uses a custom scale, or assigns different values for A+ or minus grades. It avoids conversion mismatch.
4) Does the calculator handle course repeats automatically?
You can model repeat policies using the replacement option. It removes the old attempt’s quality points from cumulative totals while keeping the new attempt included in the current term.
5) How should I enter previous GPA and credits?
Enter totals from your latest official record. The calculator converts them into prior quality points, then adds current-term quality points to estimate an updated cumulative GPA.
6) How precise are the results and rounding?
Results display to three decimals, but institutions may round differently on transcripts. Use this as a planning tool, and verify final numbers with your school’s published rounding rules.