Convert each course’s letter grade to grade points, multiply by its credit hours, sum the results, and divide by total credit hours to find GPA — or combine a prior GPA with a new semester’s GPA weighted by credit hours.
GPA Calculator
Weighted GPA from up to five courses' grades and credit hours, or a combined cumulative GPA from a prior GPA and a new semester.
Calculating GPA By Course or Cumulatively
GPA is typically calculated as a credit-hour-weighted average of grade points across courses, and this calculator covers two common scenarios: computing GPA from up to five individual courses, or combining a prior cumulative GPA with a new semester’s GPA. It covers searches like GPA calculator, weighted GPA calculator, and cumulative GPA calculator.
How the GPA Calculator Works
By Course Formula
GPA = (Grade points1 × Credits1 + Grade points2 × Credits2 + … ) ÷ Total credit hours
Cumulative Formula
New cumulative GPA = (Prior GPA × Prior credits + This semester’s GPA × This semester’s credits) ÷ (Prior credits + This semester’s credits)
Worked Example (By Course)
Course 1: A (4.0), 3 credits. Course 2: B+ (3.3), 3 credits. GPA = (4.0×3 + 3.3×3) ÷ (3+3) = (12+9.9) ÷ 6 = 3.65.
Worked Example (Cumulative)
Prior GPA 3.4 over 60 credits, this semester’s GPA 3.7 over 15 credits: New cumulative = (3.4×60 + 3.7×15) ÷ (60+15) = (204+55.5) ÷ 75 ≈ 3.46.
Why This Calculator Uses the Standard US Unweighted 4.0 Scale
This calculator uses the standard US unweighted 4.0 grade-point scale, where both A+ and A count as 4.0 — some schools use a different scale (such as counting A+ as 4.3, or not using +/- grades at all), so check your school’s official grading policy if it differs from this standard scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my school’s grading scale differs from the standard 4.0 scale used here?
This calculator uses the common US unweighted 4.0 scale; if your school uses a different scale (such as a 4.3 scale that counts A+ higher than A), the results here may not exactly match your school’s official GPA calculation — check your school’s specific policy.
What if I have fewer than five courses to enter?
Leave unused course credit-hour fields at 0 — a course with 0 credit hours doesn’t affect the weighted average, so only courses with nonzero credits factor into your GPA.
When should I use the cumulative mode instead of the by-course mode?
Use the cumulative mode when you already know your prior GPA and credit hours and just want to combine them with a new semester’s results, rather than re-entering every individual course from your entire academic history.
Does this calculator account for weighted GPA scales that go above 4.0?
No — it uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale; some high schools use weighted scales that award extra points for honors or AP courses (sometimes up to 5.0), which this calculator does not replicate.
Does retaking a course and replacing its grade affect this calculation?
Enter only the grades and credit hours that count toward your official GPA per your school’s grade-replacement policy, since policies on retaken courses vary by institution.
Can I use this calculator for a single semester’s GPA rather than cumulative?
Yes — use the by-course mode with just that semester’s courses to calculate a semester GPA, rather than the cumulative mode, which is designed for combining GPAs across terms.
