In short: A GPA is not an average of letter grades; it is an average weighted by credits, which is why a 1-credit elective barely moves it while a 4-credit core course swings it hard. Doing that weighting in your head on registration week is how surprises happen.
Updated August 28, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.
Enter up to five courses with credits and letter grades, and the calculator returns your semester GPA on the standard 4.0 scale, plus a read on where that leaves you.
How the 4.0 scale works
Each letter converts to points: A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, down to F=0. Multiply points by credits to get quality points, then divide total quality points by total credits.
Worked example: B in a 3-credit course, B+ in another 3-credit, and A in a 4-credit course gives (9 + 9.9 + 16) quality points over 10 credits = 3.49 GPA. Notice how the 4-credit A did more work than either 3-credit course.
Cumulative GPA is the same formula with every semester stacked together. Because old semesters carry so many credits, early grades dominate: raising a 2.8 after 60 credits takes far longer than after 12.
Worth remembering
- A retake where the new grade replaces the old is the single fastest legal GPA fix; a D becoming an A in a 3-credit course is worth +9 quality points.
- Watch the credit load trade-off: a lighter semester with better grades usually beats a heavy one that drags the average down.
Frequently asked
Do plus and minus grades always count the same?
No. Some schools use plain A/B/C without plus-minus, and some cap A+ at 4.0 while others give 4.3. Check the registrar's table; this tool uses the most common US scale.
Is high school GPA calculated differently?
The math is identical; the difference is weighting. Many high schools add 0.5 or 1.0 points for honors and AP courses, producing GPAs above 4.0. This calculator shows the unweighted number colleges recalculate anyway.
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