GPA Calculator

The one formula behind every GPA

GPA looks mysterious until you see the arithmetic: GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits). Every course converts its letter to points on the 4.0 scale — A/A+ = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, down to F = 0 — multiplies by the credit hours, and the sum of those quality points divides by the credits attempted. A 1-credit PE class barely moves the needle; a 5-credit calculus lecture moves it a lot. That weighting by credits is why the calculator asks for both columns.

The pre-loaded example shows it working: Biology (3 cr, A− = 11.1 points), US History honors (3 cr, B+ = 11.4 with the +0.5 bump), and English AP (4 cr, A = 20.0 with the +1.0 bump) come to 42.5 quality points over 10 credits — a 4.25 weighted GPA. Switch weighting to unweighted and the same grades drop to 3.70.

Three scales, one toggle each

Schools don’t all grade alike, so the scale is configurable. Standard is the common convention: A+ capped at 4.0 with the full +/− ladder (A− 3.7, B+ 3.3…). A+ counts 4.3 lifts the cap for schools on the uncapped scale. No +/− collapses everything to flat letters — A− and A+ both count 4.0 — for districts that never adopted refinements. Weighting is a separate toggle: honors courses gain half a point, AP/IB a full point, but only on passing grades (an F is an F).

Pass/fail is handled the way registrars actually handle it: mark a row P, NP or W and it’s excluded from the GPA entirely — no quality points, and its credits leave the denominator too.

Stack semesters, then aim

Each semester block computes its own GPA; add a second and the headline becomes your cumulative figure — every quality point and every credit across all terms. When you’re planning rather than reporting, the What do I need? panel runs the formula in reverse: current GPA × credits completed, plus a target and the credits ahead, returns the exact average required — and tells you plainly when the target needs more than straight A’s in AP.

Go deeper

• Weighted vs unweighted GPA — both numbers side by side, and which one admissions actually reads.
• How colleges recalculate your GPA — why your transcript number and your admissions number differ.
• Raise your GPA: the math — how many credits and what grades it really takes to move a cumulative average.

Frequently asked questions

How is GPA calculated?

GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits. Each course contributes (grade points × credits): a 3-credit A- is 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 quality points. Add those up, divide by the credits that count, and that's your GPA. The calculator does exactly this — points in tenths, so 4.25 means 4.25.

What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?

Unweighted caps every course at 4.0 — an A in gym equals an A in AP Chemistry. Weighted adds a bonus for course difficulty: +0.5 for honors, +1.0 for AP/IB on this site, which is how GPAs above 4.0 happen. Toggle between the two above; the full comparison explains which number colleges actually read.

Do pass/fail courses count in GPA?

No — that's why the grade list includes P, NP and W. A pass/fail course earns credits toward graduation but contributes zero quality points and zero GPA credits, so it can't raise or lower your average. The calculator excludes those rows from both sides of the division and tells you how many it skipped.

Can a GPA go above 4.0?

Yes, two ways. Weighted courses: an A in an AP/IB class counts 5.0 here. Uncapped A+: some schools count A+ as 4.3 instead of 4.0 — pick "A+ counts 4.3" in the scale menu if yours does. Both can combine to a theoretical 5.3 max.

How do I figure out what grades I need to reach a target GPA?

Use the What do I need? panel: enter your current GPA, credits completed, target GPA, and next term's credits. It solves for the required average — e.g. a 3.40 over 60 credits needs a 3.90 across the next 15 to reach 3.50. If the answer is above the scale's maximum, the tool says so instead of pretending.

Does an F in an AP class still get the +1.0 bump?

Not here. The honors/AP bonus only applies to passing grades — an F is 0 points regardless of level, matching the most common published weighting policies. Some districts do weigh a D or even an F differently; check your school profile if it matters.

Is my data saved anywhere?

No. The math runs in your browser — no accounts, and the grades you type are never sent or stored. The page itself sends the anonymous visit count described in the privacy policy. Reload the page and the rows reset; the math works fully offline once loaded.