Updated June 17, 2026
Convert each letter grade to its grade-point value (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on), multiply each by the course's credit hours, add up all those products (quality points), then divide by total credit hours attempted. The result is your GPA on the standard 4.0 scale. Four steps, no shortcuts, and no variation from school to school on the core arithmetic.
Step-by-step example
Say 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. A B+ semester.
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 rather than 4.0. Others cap everything at 4.0. Check your school's specific policy before relying on the table above.
Semester GPA vs. cumulative GPA
Semester GPA covers only the current term's courses. Cumulative GPA combines every semester: add all quality points from all terms and divide by all credit hours attempted. A strong semester lifts the cumulative number, but its effect shrinks as your total credits grow. This is why one great semester rarely rescues a shaky start. Use the GPA calculator to compute both.
High school GPA vs. college GPA
The calculation is identical, but high school courses often carry uniform credit weights regardless of length, while college courses vary. High school GPAs may also be weighted for AP or honors courses on a 5.0 or modified scale. See weighted vs. unweighted GPA for how those two versions differ.
When grades are percentages, not letters
Some schools report numeric grades rather than letters. Convert to a letter grade first using the standard ranges (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F), then follow the same steps. A few institutions use a 100-point GPA scale and never convert to 4.0; your registrar can tell you which applies.