How to Calculate Your GPA

The math behind every GPA is the same, whether it's for one semester or your whole college career. Here's exactly how it works, with a full worked example.

1. Convert each letter grade to grade points

Every letter grade corresponds to a number of "grade points" on a 4.0 scale:

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 = 1.0, D- = 0.7
F = 0.0

Some schools use slightly different scales (a few don't use +/- grades at all), so check your registrar's official scale if you want to be precise.

2. Multiply grade points by credit hours to get quality points

For each class, multiply its grade points by its credit hours. The result is that class's quality points. A 4-credit-hour class with a B (3.0) earns 4 × 3.0 = 12.0 quality points.

3. Add up quality points, then divide by GPA hours

Add up the quality points from every class, then divide by the total credit hours attempted (your "GPA hours"):

GPA = total quality points ÷ total GPA hours attempted

Worked example

Say you took three classes in a semester:

4 hours, grade B (3.0) → 12.0 quality points
3 hours, grade A- (3.7) → 11.1 quality points
3 hours, grade C+ (2.3) → 6.9 quality points

Total quality points: 12.0 + 11.1 + 6.9 = 30.0. Total hours: 4 + 3 + 3 = 10. Semester GPA: 30.0 ÷ 10 = 3.0.

Cumulative GPA works the same way — just with more classes

Your cumulative GPA uses this exact formula across every graded class you've ever taken, not just one term. That's why one strong or weak semester moves your cumulative GPA less than it moves your semester GPA — see Cumulative GPA vs. Semester GPA for how that plays out.

Rather than do this math by hand, you can plug your classes into the Best GPA Calculator and see both your semester and cumulative GPA update instantly.

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