Updated July 8, 2026
To calculate your GPA, convert each letter grade to its grade-point value (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.), multiply each by the credit hours for that course, add up all those products (called quality points), then divide by total credit hours attempted. The result is your grade point average on the standard 4.0 scale, one convention among a few schools actually use, so check the scale page if your school's numbers do not line up.
Step-by-step example
Suppose you took three courses this semester:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credit Hours | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Math | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| History | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Total | 10 | 34.2 |
GPA = 34.2 / 10 = 3.42. That is a solid B+ semester GPA.
The full letter-grade-to-points conversion
| Letter Grade | Grade Points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Some schools treat A+ as 4.3 instead of 4.0; this table shows the more common default, so confirm with your registrar before you rely on it for anything official.
Semester GPA vs. cumulative GPA
Your semester GPA covers only the courses from one term. Your cumulative GPA rolls up every semester: add all quality points across all terms, then divide by all credit hours attempted. A single strong semester lifts the cumulative GPA, but the effect is smaller once you already have many credits on record. Use the GPA calculator to run both in seconds.
High school GPA vs. college GPA
The math is identical, but high school courses often carry the same credit weight regardless of length, while college courses vary by credit hours. High school GPAs are also more likely to be weighted for AP or honors courses, which use a 5.0 or modified scale. See weighted vs. unweighted GPA for how those differ.
When grades are percentages, not letters
Some schools report numeric grades. Convert to a letter first using the standard cutoffs (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F), then follow the steps above. A few schools use a 100-point GPA scale directly; your registrar will specify which one applies to you.
Run the numbers instead of doing it by hand
The GPA calculator does this exact quality-points math from a list of your courses and credits.