phd gpa calculator

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Gpa calculator.

Note: Content of this webpage is provided for informational purposes only and are only estimates. Repeats could cause a difference in actual GPA and this estimated GPA. If you are currently enrolled in a course that would be a first-time repeat, you need to subtract the quality points from QPTS and quality hours from QHRS of the first course before entering to calculate cumulative GPA.

To calculate your cumulative GPA, you will need to view your transcript on-line using Eagle Online or view a hard copy of your transcript. You will need to enter the quality points (QPTS) and quality hours (QHRS) listed under the HE Cum summary line from the transcript. If you have taken developmental studies classes (applies to undergraduate students only), you will have 2 lines labeled as UJ HE Cum and U HE Cum. The UJ GPA is the combined undergraduate college and remedial/developmental GPA. This GPA is used to determine retention standards (probation/suspension). The U GPA is the undergraduate college level GPA which is used to determine graduation and graduation with honors. 

The QHRS and QPTS in italics are used to determine graduation and graduation with honors. The QHRS and QPTS in bold are used to determine retention (probation/suspension) standards. Retention Standards For Undergraduates. If you are trying to project your GPA to determine retention standards, you need to use your "UJ HE Cum" information. Please see Retention Table for more information.

A student on academic probation who fails to meet the retention standards during the next term in which enrolled will be suspended. Graduate students should check the Graduate Catalog to review retention standards.

Graduation with Honors–Undergraduates. If you are trying to project your GPA to determine honors, you need to use your "U HE Cum" information. Recognition of honors at the graduation ceremony will be made for those students obtaining the required GPA by the beginning of their final semester.

Cum Laude: 3.5 Magna Cum Laude: 3.7 Summa Cum Laude: 3.9 Notation of graduation with honors is entered on the diploma and the transcript and is based on the cumulative GPA on all degree credit courses.

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Dean's List GPA 

To qualify for the Dean's List you must be a full-time (12 hours or more for fall and spring semesters; 8 hours or more for summer semester) regular undergraduate and have a semester's grade average of 3.1 or higher. ADP courses will not be included in the calculation of grades for honors.

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GPA Calculator

Your Ultimate Guide to Calculating GPA

The Ultimate Guide on GPA

SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GPA… high school and college studies are filled with acronyms and it’s enough to make anyone’s mind spin. GPA stands for grade point average and it’s yet another metric you’ll need to keep track of in high school, college, and beyond. Students often get confused on all things GPA – how to calculate and improve GPA; different types of GPA, weighted vs. non-weighted, cumulative vs. semester GPA etc., and there aren’t any good resource available online that can help students with all their questions. We’ve stepped in to help you out with a GPA guide.

Who is this guide for?

Any high school or college student with a grade letter or 4-point scale based grade reporting system. Some educational systems place more weight and significance on the GPA calculations than others, but it is an important piece of academic criteria in American schools in particular.

What is GPA?

• Why GPA is so important?
• How is GPA calculated?
• What is a good college GPA?
• Does GPA really matter?

How much can GPA help or hurt you?

• Can GPA be improved?

I keep hearing about GPA and how some students have a GPA of 3 or 4, etc. What do these numbers mean and how should I calculate my GPA?

Grade Point Average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents a student’s average performance in their studies over a stated period of time, such as one semester, an academic year, or an entire academic performance at an institution. Being numerical, GPAs are often calculated to two decimals. They are used as indicators of whether levels of student performance meet some fixed criterion, and for sorting groups of students into rank order.

While GPA scores are universally understood, grading scales differ considerably across institutions and countries. Conversion tables are usually available for comparing grades and GPAs within countries and internationally.

When an entire study program is organized as a collection of units, each period of time gives rise to its own GPA. The most common study period for a course is one semester, usually 12-15 weeks of class. If a full-time student enrolls in four courses in a particular semester, the GPA is calculated as the average performance over those four courses.

Why is GPA so important?

Colleges use this number to measure your overall performance in school and compare you to other students.

Your GPA is important for your future because:

• Even before college, your GPA can determine whether or not you’re eligible to take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)courses during your junior and senior years of high school.
• For admission, the higher your GPA, the better your chances are of getting into the college of your choice.
• Your GPA is a major consideration for both academic and athletic college scholarships, as well as financial aid.
• Maintaining a high GPA can qualify students for academic excellence awards, the Dean’s list, and admission to student organizations dedicated to academic performance.
• Falling below a certain GPA score may put you at risk for academic probation, expulsion, or inability to graduate.
• Your GPA upon college graduation will, again, become a point of reference for post-graduate academic programs like law school, medical school, Master’s programs, etc.

GPA is one of the major things that schools, undergraduate and post-graduate, look at when reviewing applications for admission. According to a National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) 2011 Survey, grades in college prep courses were the most important factor weighing in to the admissions decision. Grades in all courses ranked as the fourth most important factor, behind strength of curriculum and ACT/SAT scores.

The more selective the school, the more the GPA will matter and the higher it will need to be. The general consensus for highly selective schools seems to be that a GPA of 3.5 or above is considered acceptable. A student with a GPA below 3.5 will have a harder time convincing a very selective school that he or she should be admitted.

How is a cumulative GPA calculated?

A cumulative GPA is the grade point average of a group of classes. The classes could be grouped by semester, academic year, complete academic history at an institution, major or department, etc. Perhaps your major requires that you maintain a certain GPA in their classes to be a part of their program, or maybe your curious how last semesters GPA affected your overall academic GPA. Either way, the first step is to identify the courses that make up the cumulative GPA you’re hoping to analyze and list the corresponding final grades. Next, we’ll simply convert them from a letter grade to a 4.0 scale, do some simple arithmetic, and *poof* cumulative GPA! Pull out your grades and follow along with the simple steps below.

• Convert the grades from all your classes to points using the following scale:

The points for each class are multiplied by the number of credits or hours for that class, added together, and divided by the total number of credits or hours.

Simple, right? If you are nerd or think C programming is cooler than J Cole, then here’s your complete guide on how to calculate GPA .

Find out how your high school calculates your GPA.

High schools can calculate GPAs based on your letter grades in different ways.

Following a standard 4.0 scale for example,

A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.

However, some high schools count pluses and minuses differently. For example,

B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7.

Each class grade is multiplied by the credit for each class and added together to determine an unweighted GPA.

Alternatively, some schools will calculate weighted GPAs, which give more importance to honors, accelerated, AP and IB classes. In this scenario, a 5.0 would be a perfect score instead of a 4.0. For example,

AP biology A=5,B=4,C=3,D=2,F=0

Understand how colleges may recalculate your GPA.

Many colleges want to evaluate your GPA using their own methods. Often, they’ll disregard “easy A’s” you earned in gym or art class and focus on the fundamentals of your education, calculating your GPA from the grades you earned in core curriculum classes like science, English, social studies and math. It can also be taken into account the level of your classes, if your high school designates on. For example, some high schools have basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of all classes (not including AP or honors classes), and this can play a factor in how colleges weight those grades on your transcript. So even if you’re acing several classes, it’s most important to do well in the core academic classes. Some colleges also look at both your unweighted and weighted GPA’s, which means you can’t rely on your AP, IB and honors courses to raise your GPA.

What is a good GPA?

Believe it or not, this depends largely on your plans after college. According to Pat Criscito in “How to Write Better Resumes and Cover Letters,” employers consider a good GPA to be over a 3.5. A GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 will neither impress an employer nor create an unfavorable impression. Job applicants should omit college GPAs lower than a 3.0 from their resumes.

Students interested in attending law or medical school should investigate the average GPA of students admitted to their prospective schools. The Internet Legal Research Group reports that the average GPA of students admitted to the top fifty law schools in the United States in 2009 ranged from 3.31 to 3.77. Pre-med students should be aware that the average GPA of students admitted to medical school is higher; according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), students accepted to medical school have GPAs ranging from 3.46 to 3.91.

Students intending to apply to graduate school have more flexibility. What is considered a good GPA varies from school to school and field to field. Check the graduate school’s minimum requirements for GPA for admission; programs within that graduate school might have further requirements. In general, students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 may find it difficult to be accepted to a master’s or doctoral program.

• Having a high GPA but a transcript filled with easy or lower-level classes may be less impressive to graduate, medical, and law schools than a slightly lower GPA but a history of tackling difficult coursework.
• Do not be discouraged if you have a rough freshman year in terms of grades. You can highlight your improvement either on your application or in an interview.
• Pay attention to your major GPA as well as your cumulative GPA. Many graduate and medical programs will look at both in considering your application.

Judged alongside your SAT/ACT scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and extracurricular activities, your high school GPA is by far one of the most important factors that is considered in the college admissions process. While they are generally judged together, as a collective portrayal of your performance as a student, having a high GPA (in the 3.5 to 4.0 or A range) can really help you, but it also depends on the circumstances.

Your high GPA will be a big asset if:

• You earned it in high level classes or classes that were increasingly more difficult

Above all, colleges want to see that you are willing to challenge yourself intellectually. They want to know you’re ready to study in the big leagues and that, if accepted to their university, the rigorous college curriculum won’t make you bat an eye. If you managed to earn a high GPA while taking difficult courses, this will show them that you’re both intelligent and driven. Even if you took easier classes at the beginning of high school and then went on to take more challenging ones later , this demonstrates that you are engaged in your learning and are willing to push yourself. Showing your dedication to learning and advancing is just as important as showing your evolution as a student.

• Your standardized test scores are good, but not amazing

If you aren’t a great test taker and didn’t end up getting awesome scores on the SAT or ACT, your GPA will help you to rise above the crowd despite this. Again, your GPA and test scores are considered as part of a collective portrayal of your academic success, but if your test scores are drawing negative attention to your application, your GPA is here to save you. More and more, schools are starting to see GPA is a more reliable metric than standardized tests for judging academic potential. A high GPA shows determination over time and in the classroom and is the most reliable indicator of a student’s ability to follow through and actually graduate college much more so than a test score that reflects how well you penciled in bubbles on a test form for 2 hours on a Saturday morning during your junior year.

• Your GPA stands out from other students in your class

If very few other students at your school achieved a GPA similar to yours, this indicates that you were willing to go above and beyond to get high grades in difficult classes. You don’t have to be the valedictorian or graduate first in your class, although that definitely wouldn’t hurt, but a GPA that places you amongst an elite group of serious academic performers in an otherwise average-performing student body is exactly the kind of attention you want to bring to your college application.

Your high GPA may not matter much if:

• You earned it in less demanding classes

You may have a 4.0, but if you took the easiest classes available to get there, colleges won’t look as favorably upon your application. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense – colleges are looking for students who are willing to apply themselves and make full use of the resources they are given. If you took all the basic level courses and performed well with an A average, good for you, but Suzy Q took all the advanced level courses, stumbled a bit, but managed a B+ average and that looks even better. If you don’t demonstrate intellectual engagement in high school and instead just go for the easy A, it doesn’t make a good impression.

2. Your standardized test scores are abnormally low

Even if you earn a very high GPA, if your standardized test scores are average or below average, you might have problems. These days, standardized tests are seen a little bit more for what they are – a tool to measure the standard student, which you may or not be. Still, these tests are one of the most important factors colleges consider besides GPA , so you shouldn’t take them lightly. When it comes to test-taking, the information on the test is only half the battle. Invest plenty of time and energy into studying the material, but also in how to take tests. You wouldn’t believe how many brilliant minds have scored terribly on tests simply because they lack the test-taking skill, rather than the information on the exam. Whether it’s the science of multiple choice questions, eliminating possibilities, the art of BS, or literally studying raw academic material, if you make a point of studying for these tests, you should be able to boost your scores even if you don’t consider yourself a natural test-taker.

3.Many other students are at the same level

If your GPA doesn’t stand out from the pack, this points to grade inflation (high grades for work that might not fully deserve them). This is a problem at many schools, and is really frustrating for students who are high-achieving but can’t stand out because of low standards. This might not be as much as a problem as the other factors because admissions officers will know whether or not your school has this issue and will take it into account when looking at your record. It just means an increased emphasis on standardized test scores , extracurricular activities, and anything else that individualizes you as a successful student, so you should work on preparing strong discretionary pieces of your application, like personal statement and letters of recommendation, if you know grade inflation is a concern at your school.

“YOU get a 4.0 GPA! And YOU get a 4.0 GPA! You all get 4.0 GPAs!!!!”

Now let’s look at the other side of things. With a low GPA (anywhere below the national average of a 3.0), you might think you’re out of luck, but that’s not necessarily true. Though it may be difficult to get into very selective universities, schools will consider other factors as well again, remember your application is like a puzzle, and each metric is like a different piece.

Your low GPA might not be too much of a problem if:

• It’s above a 2.0

As long as your GPA is higher than a 2.0, there will be some colleges where you have a good chance of acceptance. In this case, build a strong case for your extracurricular activities and your plans for success in college. If it’s below a 2.0 it will be nearly impossible to get into most schools.

2.You did well on standardized tests

As I mentioned earlier, standardized tests are the most important thing colleges will consider apart from your GPA. If you do extremely well , they will be more likely to give you a chance, despite your low GPA. Studying for standardized tests and improving your scores is much easier than improving your GPA, so if your GPA isn’t where you want it to be, try to focus on score improvement to get the most bang for your buck in the college admissions process. While it’s not advisable to take the SATs 15 times until you get a perfect score, bombing it on the first try isn’t a dead-end either. Consider taking the SATs or ACTs 2-3 times, if necessary, as your highest score is the one you will send out to universities for consideration.

3. You challenged yourself with difficult coursework

If your GPA is on the lower side, but you earned it in difficult classes or challenged yourself more and more over the course of high school, colleges will take this into account. Make sure to talk about this in your personal statement. Your GPA itself is less important than the road you took to get there.

• You experienced challenging circumstances

Perhaps you have a learning or physical disability, missed a large period of time due to illness, lost a family member, started as a new student, or suffered any other considerable hardship. If you did and it negatively impacted your grades, a strong personal statement, proof, and supporting letters of recommendation can help explain a batch of low grades that dragged down your GPA and draw attention to your later success in the face of adversity.

How can I improve / raise my GPA?

It’s difficult, but doable. Sure, it’s hard to improve your GPA because it’s the average of all your grades over the course of college or high school. The more grades you add in to the mix, the less each of them is worth. Don’t think that all As in your last semester will save the day if you got mostly Bs and Cs during the first 3 years. If you end up with a C average your freshman year of high school, for example, you could technically bring it up to a B+ average by the end of your junior year if you earned A averages during your sophomore and junior years. If you have a C average for both your freshman and sophomore years, the best you’ll be able to do is a B- because the Cs from the first two years of high school will bring down your average so much. That’s not to mention that going from a C average to an A average in all classes is not something that most people can manage since it requires such a drastic change in study habits and motivation. At the end of the day, it’s all about math and motivation.

However, there are ways you can improve your GPA by:

• Asking for extra help

This is always a good idea if you feel yourself slipping in a class. As soon as you start to struggle, ask for clarification so you don’t end up getting totally lost and don’t feel shy about doing it. It’s your instructors job to teach the material and a part of teaching means making sure all the students understand. You may just need things explained a different way, and you may not be alone!

• Don’t wait to fall to ask for a hand

Many students can be categorized into two types: those who excel in math and sciences, and those who excel in writing and languages. If you’re a writing and languages kind of student gearing up for a semester of chemistry, don’t wait until the first lab report comes back with a low grade on it to look for help. Upon starting a course in an area that you generally struggle in, have a frank conversation with the instructor expressing your concerns and asking for suggestions in ways to stay on top. Perhaps they can pass along additional readings, exercises, tutor suggestions or study groups that can help you stay afloat before you start to sink. Not to mention, they’ll appreciate your honesty and enthusiasm in trying to do well in their class.

• Reassessing your study habits

Your problem could also be that you procrastinate too much or don’t actually study the material enough to prepare for tests. These bad habits are difficult to change, but it’s really important to step back and fix fundamental problems like this that are holding you back before they get out of hand. If you’re not sure what your problem is or how to go about cracking it, make use of your advisor or guidance counselors. They’re there for more than just schedule planning! Advisors and counselors are trained professionals who want to see you do well and are an often forgotten about resource in academic success. Shoot out an email or give their office door a knock and see what kind of suggestions they may have up their sleeve to help you get your act together.

4. Challenging yourself more

This may seem paradoxical – I would only advocate this if you’re getting a very good GPA in low level classes. Your GPA will look better to colleges if you work harder for it, so you should be proactive about pursuing more challenging coursework. Even if your grades end up slightly lower, moving up a level shows that you were willing to push yourself outside your comfort zone for a more productive learning experience. On the flip side of this, if you’re in a situation where a class is extremely difficult for you and your grades may be unsalvageable, you should consider dropping it so that you don’t end up with a failing grade on your transcript.

If it’s already your junior year and you don’t have much time left to make improvements, you should focus more on standardized testing. With a few months of dedicated studying, you can significantly raise your scores and increase your chances of college admission.

Pro Tip: The main thing for GPA is to start out strong and finish up stronger; with the way averages work, it’s hard to make significant changes later on.

Earning a good GPA is like running a cross country race. It’s pretty painful and you have to maintain a strong pace throughout, but in the end it’s worth it because of the sense of accomplishment.

GPA: Final Verdict

• A regular unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0. Your GPA may be weighted, which means it goes up higher (usually up to a 5.0 but some schools have an even bigger scale). This can complicate things when it comes to being compared to other students, but in the long run, it’s still an accurate measurement of your academic work.
• Weighted GPAs take course difficulty into account apart from grades, so that students in high level classes earn GPAs that reflect the difficulty of the courses they take. This means a student earning in A in a basic level class will have a lower GPA than a student earning an A in an upper level class.
• Your GPA can help you a lot in college admissions if it’s in the A range, or above a 3.5, but that often depends on the difficulty of your coursework, your class rank, and the quality of your standardized test scores.
• If your GPA is especially low (2.5 or lower), focus on improving your standardized test scores and make an effort to bring up your grades by asking for help and fixing any bad habits you’ve fallen into. Your GPA is one of the most crucial aspects of your college application, so if you feel like things aren’t going well in your classes, speak up! Also discuss the situation with your guidance counselor or advisor. They may be able to help you adjust your course load to something more manageable or realistic, or even find out if you’re able to repeat a course to improve the grade.
• Start improving your GPA now. You can’t wait until your junior or senior year to start worrying about your cumulative GPA. Every single class you take during the four years spent in high school gets averaged in, so your freshman and sophomore year grades are just as important. If you bomb every class in the first year or two, it’ll be impossible to graduate with an above average GPA. That being said, low grades in your first year or two will not necessarily exclude you from an elite university. If you’re able to pull yourself up from your boot straps and perform extraordinarily from there on out, your application will read as a success story rather than a failure, although it is something that should be explained in your personal statement.
• Work hard in your freshman and sophomore years to increase your chance of admission into AP, IB, honors and accelerated courses. They’re your golden ticket to a higher GPA since they’re often given more weight on the GPA scale. In fact, the GPA on your college application may only reflect the first 3 or 3 ½ years of high school anyway, since you’ll need to apply before your first semester grades of senior year are calculated. Moreover, some universities will accept these advanced courses as college credit, demonstrating that not only are you prepared for college-level studies, but have already been taking and succeeding in higher level learning.

The most important thing to remember about GPAs are that they are not some magical, mathematical equation drawn out of thin air. Your GPA is merely a simplified numerical reflection of the success you have (or haven’t) had during a given period of time. If you study hard, commit yourself, and take education seriously, your GPA will reflect that and you won’t have much to worry about.

Good luck, and may the grades be in your favor.

• Ultimate Guide to GPA for PhD Admissions into Grad School
• Applying to a PhD

What is GPA?

GPA stands for Grade Point Average . It’s a numerical representation of a student’s academic performance, calculated by converting letter grades or percentages into grade points on a standardised 0-4.0 scale in most countries like the US, Canada and Australia.

Each letter grade is assigned a corresponding number of grade points – for example, an A is typically a 4.0, a B a 3.0, and so on.

The GPA is calculated by taking the average of all the grade points earned in each course, weighted by the number of credit hours. A student’s cumulative GPA represents their overall academic performance across all semesters.

Some countries like the UK use different grading scales, but GPAs can be converted between systems for comparison.

Maintaining a high GPA is important for staying in good academic standing, qualifying for scholarships, and being competitive for graduate school admissions.

Does GPA matter for a PhD application?

GPA plays a significant role in PhD admissions, as it is one of the key quantitative measures used to assess an applicant’s academic abilities and potential for success in a doctoral program.

Many PhD programs have minimum GPA requirements, often higher than for master’s degrees, typically in the 3.0-3.5 range on a 4.0 scale. A strong GPA, especially in the major field of study and any master’s coursework, can greatly improve an applicant’s chances of acceptance.

However, GPA is not the only factor considered. PhD admissions committees take a holistic approach, also weighing research experience, recommendation letters, personal statements, transcripts and standardised test scores of graduate students. Applicants with a lower GPA can still be competitive if they have significant research accomplishments, glowing recommendations from faculty, and demonstrate strong motivation for doctoral study in their essays. Ultimately, while GPA is important, it is not the sole determinant of admission to a PhD program.

The Role of GPA in PhD Admissions

How admissions committees evaluate gpa.

PhD admissions committees carefully scrutinise applicants’ GPAs as a key indicator of academic ability and preparation for rigorous doctoral study. They consider not only the overall GPA but also the difficulty of courses taken, the reputation of the undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, and grade trends over time. Admissions officers pay close attention to grades earned in courses relevant to the applicant’s proposed field of study, especially at the graduate level. While a high GPA alone does not guarantee admission, it can significantly enhance an applicant’s competitiveness, particularly when combined with strong research experience, glowing recommendations, and a compelling personal statement.

In recent years, many PhD programs have placed increasing emphasis on holistic application review, considering a wide range of factors beyond just GPA. Recognising that grades don’t always reflect an applicant’s full potential, admissions committees are giving more weight to research experience, publications, and other evidence of scholarly engagement. Some programs are even moving away from strict GPA cutoffs and minimum requirements, instead evaluating each grad students academic record in context. However, this trend varies by field and institution, and a strong GPA remains a crucial component of a competitive application, especially for top-tier programs.

GPA conversions

Since grading scales vary between countries and even institutions, understanding how to convert GPAs is crucial for international students applying to PhD programs abroad .

The most common conversion is to the US 4.0 scale, where an A equals 4.0, B is 3.0, C is 2.0, D is 1.0 and F is 0.

Online GPA calculators are available to help translate grades from various countries to the 4.0 scale, the below conversion chart is an example for the UK.

For example, in the UK, a First Class Honours (70%+) is approximately equivalent to a 4.0, while an Upper Second Class (60-69%) maps to around a 3.3-3.7.

Some universities provide their own GPA conversion guidelines for international applicants. It’s important to carefully research the grading system and GPA expectations of your target PhD programs to ensure your grades are competitive.

If in doubt, contacting the admissions office can provide clarity on how they evaluate international GPAs for doctoral admissions. The application process may also involve understanding how your GRE scores are taken into account.

Average Master’s GPA Requirements for PhD Programs

When applying to PhD graduate programs, it’s important to know what GPA is considered competitive. While requirements vary by field and institution, most reputable PhD programs expect at least a 3.0 GPA in master’s coursework, with many preferring a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Top-tier, highly competitive programs often have even higher GPA expectations, sometimes 3.7+ , such as those offered by MIT. However, GPA cutoffs are not always strict, and a stellar research record, strong test scores, and compelling recommendations can sometimes compensate for a slightly lower GPA. Admissions committees are especially interested in grades earned in undergraduate study and graduate-level courses in the field of study, as they are the strongest predictor of ability to handle the rigor of a PhD program.

Performing well in advanced master’s classes and maintaining a high graduate GPA can significantly boost your competitiveness as a PhD applicant, even if your undergraduate grades were less than ideal. Researching the average GPAs of accepted students at your target programs can give you a benchmark to aim for.

Correlations between GPA and doctoral program outcomes

Studies have investigated the relationship between GPA and various measures of success in doctoral programs, such as completion rates, time to degree, and post-graduation employment. While results vary somewhat by discipline, research generally suggests that students with higher GPAs are more likely to complete their doctoral degrees and do so in a timely manner.

For example, a 2019 study by the Council of Graduate Schools found that PhD students with undergraduate GPAs of 3.5 or higher had a 61% ten-year completion rate, compared to 56% for those with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.24. However, the predictive power of GPA is not perfect, and many students with moderate GPAs also go on to have successful doctoral careers.

Ultimately, GPA is just one factor among many that shape PhD outcomes, alongside research productivity, mentorship, financial support, academic career and personal motivation.

Field-Specific GPA Considerations

Stem vs. humanities vs. social sciences.

Doctoral programs in STEM fields, such as physics, chemistry, and computer science, often have the highest GPA expectations, with many programs setting minimum thresholds of 3.5 or even 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. The quantitative and cumulative nature of STEM coursework means that grades in math and science courses are especially important.

In contrast, humanities and social science programs may have slightly lower GPA cutoffs, around 3.3-3.5, and place more emphasis on grades in writing-intensive courses and overall grade trends. However, these differences are not universal, and some top humanities and social science programs have GPA expectations on par with STEM fields.

Professional doctorates (e.g., EdD, DBA) vs. traditional PhDs

Professional doctoral programs, designed for working professionals seeking advanced skills and credentials, sometimes have different GPA considerations than traditional research-focused PhD programs.

For example, Doctor of Education (EdD) or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs may place more weight on professional experience, relevant work experience, leadership potential, and professional accomplishments, alongside academic records. While a strong GPA is still important, the minimum thresholds may be slightly lower, around 3.0-3.3, and admissions committees may be more willing to consider applicants with lower GPAs who have significant professional achievements. However, this varies by program, and many professional doctorates still have competitive GPA expectations.

Is it possible to Get Into a PhD Program with a Low GPA

While a high GPA is certainly advantageous for PhD admissions, it is still possible to get accepted with a lower GPA. Admissions committees understand that grades don’t tell the whole story and consider applicants holistically.

If your GPA is below the program’s typical range, focus on strengthening other parts of your application. Gaining substantial research experience, securing strong letters of recommendation from faculty who can speak to your abilities, and writing compelling personal statements and a compelling dissertation proposal that demonstrate your motivation and fit for the program can help mitigate a low GPA. Addressing any GPA weaknesses head-on in your application and highlighting evidence of improvement, like strong grades in recent master’s coursework, can also help your case.

Some programs may offer conditional admission for lower-GPA applicants, requiring them to maintain a certain graduate GPA to continue in the program. If your GPA is significantly below average, applying to a range of programs, including less selective ones, can increase your chances of acceptance. With a robust application showcasing your research potential and academic growth, getting into a PhD program with a low GPA is challenging but achievable.

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Grade Point Average

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) required for graduate programs is based on a 4.00 scale:

• Accelerated Master’s Programs = 3.30
• Certificate Programs = 2.75
• Degree Programs = 3.00
• Non-Degree* = GPA is not calculated. Applicants must hold a regionally accredited Bachelor degree or comparable international degree.

*Applicants that do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, but do hold a comparable bachelor's degree, and applicants with a UA graduate GPA below 3.0, may still be eligible for admission into Graduate Non-Degree status .

Calculation of the Admission GPA is based on the following:

• Cumulative GPA from 6 or more graded graduate units from the University of Arizona.
• Cumulative GPA from highest degree, or 12 or more graded units obtained as a graduate student at another institution.
• Cumulative GPA from undergraduate degree (record must include at least 60 graded units.)
•  Calculated GPA from last 60 units (domestic), or last 2 years (international, full time equivalent)
• Combination of the last 60 units of undergraduate and graduate coursework (or 2 year, full-time equivalent) when fewer than 12 units of graduate coursework have been completed.

The Graduate College performs all GPA calculations on a case-by-case basis and the calculation steps above are meant as a guide. As always, special circumstances arise and not every situation can be listed.

Estimate your GPA using our GPA Calculator !

Graduate College GPA Calculator

College GPA Calculator

What is gpa, college gpa scale (4.0 gpa scale), how to calculate college gpa college gpa formula, use our tool as a college cumulative gpa calculator, average college gpa, what is a good gpa in college.

If you're wondering what's your college GPA, wait no longer - our college GPA calculator is here for you. Type in the grades from your courses as well as the credits you've got for each of them, and in no time, you'll find your GPA. Not sure what GPA is or how to calculate college GPA? We're here to help. If you want to understand the college GPA scale and check out what the 4.0 GPA scale looks like, jump to the next paragraph. Wondering what a good GPA in college is? Well, it depends (as always...), but we gathered some data on average college GPA, which can give you a small hint. Moreover, you'll find a paragraph with a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to use this college GPA calculator as a cumulative college GPA calculator. Are you ready? Wait no longer. Read on and try our calculator!

If you're looking for a calculation of GPA for college admittance, check out this useful high school GPA calculator - it works in a similar way, but it has more options on weighting the courses (like special weights if the course was really demanding, AP, IB, etc.). Additionally, you may find the final grade calculator useful - it helps to determine your final grade or what you can do to improve your result. Also, check out the 529 plan calculator if you're planning to save for college.

GPA stands for Grade Point Average , and it's one of the measures of students' achievements and academic performance. The calculation is done by converting the grades to a numerical scale and averaging them according to given credits (weights). GPA may be calculated on the basis of grades from one semester, a year, or even your whole academic career.

Although GPA is a basic estimator and may vary a bit between schools, it's a measure often used by academic institutions and potential employees. It finds application in assessing and comparing students and creating the rankings for:

• Scholarship awards, merit-based financial aid, funding programs;
• Graduation honors and awards; and
• Job interviews and admission decisions.

Most schools in the US use a so-called 4.0 GPA scale - a 4-point grading scale. The table below shows a typical letter grade/GPA conversion system:

Some schools give 4.3 scores for an A+ grade, so in that case, it's possible to obtain a final score exceeding the standard maximum 4.0 GPA. Although the values in the table are the ones most often used by academic institutions, the percentage intervals, and the college GPA scale may differ between schools, so check out your school rules and statute.

You've already found out what GPA is, so the time has come for some maths. A general formula for the calculation of college GPA is:

So, simply speaking, it's a ratio of the sum of weighted grades divided by all credit points. It's not a difficult task to find a GPA value yourself! The most demanding part is calculating the weighted average of your courses. Let's have a look at the exemplary calculation:

Assume we want to find the GPA of our four courses with different credit points.

How to calculate college GPA manually?

• First, convert letter scores into numbers. Use the table from the previous paragraph.

• Then, sum up all multiplications of the course grade and respective credits

3 × 4.0 + 4 × 3.3 + 2 × 2.0 + 2 × 2.7 = 34.6. 3 \times 4.0 + 4 \times 3.3 + 2 \times 2.0 + 2 \times 2.7 = 34.6. 3 × 4.0 + 4 × 3.3 + 2 × 2.0 + 2 × 2.7 = 34.6.

• Divide the result by the sum of all credits and round to 3 significant figures:

34.6 4 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 3.145145145... ≈ 3.15. \frac{34.6}{4+3+2+2} = 3.145145145... \approx 3.15. 4 + 3 + 2 + 2 34.6 ​ = 3.145145145... ≈ 3.15.

💡 Rounding to significant figures is different than using decimal points. If you're unfamiliar with it, check our significant figures calculator to learn the difference!

How to calculate it faster? Use our college GPA calculator!

Select your grade for the first course. So it's 'A' for our first exemplary class - Maths .

Enter the class credits. Change the default value from 1 to 3.

Repeat until all courses from the list are included. It's ok if you want to enter less than five courses - the calculator will ignore the blank boxes.

For our case, we'll select:

• Course #2 ( Physics ) grade as B+, with respective credits: 4
• Course #3 ( Biology ) grade as C and type the credits: 2
• Course #4 ( Chemistry ) grade: B- and respective credits: 2

Here you go! The college GPA calculator did all the maths, and the GPA value is displayed.

If you don't have the credits for courses, leave the default value 1. Every course will be treated equally, and our calculator will not use the weighted average but the standard arithmetic average.

With this calculator, you can also calculate your cumulative GPA. Just hit the Advanced mode button below the tool, and two boxes will appear - for your current GPA score and the sum of credits you got.

Returning to the example from a previous paragraph: assume that we've just calculated the scores from the second semester, and we'd like to know the cumulative GPA after the whole freshmen year.

• Assume that we finished the first semester with a GPA of 3.3. Type that value into the Cumulative GPA box.
• During the first semester, we did courses for 16 credits. Enter 16 into Credits .
• Under the calculator you'll find the GPA (3.15) and also cumulative GPA , which is equal to 3.24 in our example.

It's hard to pick one single number to estimate the average college GPA. The grades are rising through the years (check out the great charts on grade inflation website ). There are differences among schools, fields of study, gender, ethnicity, and place of studying, to name only a few factors. If - after that introduction - you still want to see one number, here it is - average college GPA is around 3.15 : 3.0 for public schools and 3.3 for private colleges and universities according to 2010 studies . A is now the most common grade in all types of colleges, and it's obtained more and more often. Grade point averages have increased around 0.1 points every ten years - in the 1950s, an average GPA was 2.52 .

You need to remember that the average college GPA depends a lot on the major: science majors tend to have lower GPAs than humanities majors (e.g., 2.78 and 2.90 are the average GPAs in Chemistry and Maths , respectively; whereas Education has a GPA equal to 3.36 ). Another critical factor is the school you're attending - highly selective colleges like Harvard or Stanford have higher average undergraduate GPAs than schools with high acceptance rates. You can read more about the average college GPA topic on the Prep scholar website .

Well, the answer to such a question is quite obvious - it really depends on your ambition, the college you're attending, your major, and many other factors.

Generally speaking, a 3.0 GPA is a "B" mark - which stands for average. Many times it's the lowest score you can get to continue specific majors or courses. A 3.5 GPA is often seen as above average, good, or even very good result, but - as we said before - it may vary for your major and school.

If your GPA is not as high as you would like it to be - don't worry so much, as a GPA score is relatively low on the employers' list. More important factors are internships and work experience, your major, volunteering, or even extracurricular activity.

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What’s A Good GPA For Grad School? How To Get In

Updated: Mar 26, 2024, 4:18pm

Applying to grad school can be stressful, especially if your undergraduate GPA could be higher. But there’s good news—you don’t need a 4.0 to get into grad school.

What’s a good GPA for grad school? It depends on the school and program. In general, graduate schools look for a minimum 3.0 GPA, but programs admit applicants with lower GPAs, too.

Grades aren’t the only way grad schools measure applicants. You also submit letters of recommendation and college essays , among other materials that can help you stand out. By doing your research and strengthening other areas of your application, you can get into grad school without a high GPA.

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What GPA Do You Need for Grad School?

Many grad schools require a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission, while some competitive programs may require a GPA as high as 3.5.

However, meeting the minimum GPA threshold doesn’t guarantee admission. For example, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s graduate school recommends applicants have a minimum 3.0 GPA, but the average GPA for admitted students is 3.54.

Competitive grad programs may have even higher average GPAs: For example, Harvard University ‘s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences reported a 3.8 average undergraduate GPA for fall 2023 graduate students. Many prestigious M.B.A. programs report the average undergraduate GPA for new grad students is 3.5 or higher.

Less competitive programs regularly admit students with lower GPAs , especially those whose applications highlight other aspects of their achievements.

How Do Grad School Admissions Officers Evaluate Applicants?

Grades aren’t the only factor grad school admissions officers consider when evaluating applicants. Ultimately, the admissions process aims to find students who will succeed in grad school. You can show your preparation for graduate-level coursework in several ways.

Elements outside GPA that play a role in grad school admissions decisions include:

• Standardized Test Scores: High scores on tests like the GRE or GMAT can boost your chance of admissions. For test-optional graduate programs, consider submitting scores if you have a lower GPA.
• Experience: Some programs require applicants to have research or work experience, so explain how your previous jobs or research opportunities have prepared you for the program in your statement of purpose.
• Letters of Recommendation: Recommendation letters speak to your viability for grad school, which makes them a valuable tool for admissions officers. When choosing recommenders, ask faculty or work supervisors who can provide specific examples of your academic and professional strengths.
• Statement of Purpose: Your statement of purpose explains your preparation for grad school, why you will fit into the program and what you plan to do with your graduate degree.
• Undergraduate Transcripts: Admissions officers look for more than grades in your transcript. They want to see which courses you took, whether you meet prerequisite requirements and whether your transcripts show improvement over time.

How To Get Into Grad School With a Low GPA

Strengthening your application with research experience, work history or standardized test scores can help you stand out even with a lower GPA. You can also take graduate courses to demonstrate that you can succeed in advanced classes. Finally, if you thrive in interview settings, consider programs that incorporate interviews with faculty or admissions officers to showcase your strengths.

Here are some considerations for getting into grad school with a low GPA:

Apply To Grad Schools With Lower GPA Requirements

Instead of applying to grad programs that require a minimum 3.0 to 3.5 GPA, consider applying to programs with lower grade point average requirements. Additionally, some programs offer conditional or provisional admission for applicants who do not meet GPA minimums. If you qualify for provisional admission, you must usually earn a B or higher in your graduate classes to stay enrolled.

Research or Work Experience

Work or research experience can help you stand out despite a low GPA. While enrolled as an undergraduate, consider internship or volunteer opportunities in your field to build relevant skills. For research-intensive areas, ask faculty in your department about research assistant positions or undergraduate thesis options.

Letters of Recommendation

Strong letters of recommendation can make up for a lower GPA. Think strategically about who to ask for a recommendation letter. Professors who can speak to your academic strengths can reassure grad programs that you’re ready for advanced coursework. If you have full-time professional experience, ask supervisors who can speak to your work ethic and leadership potential.

Personal Statement

A strong grad school admission essay can help you stand out. Explain how the program will help you achieve your goals. Mention specific faculty members and their research to show the direct connection between the department and your aspirations.

Consider addressing your GPA as you explain your preparation for grad school. For example, if circumstantial impacts like bereavement or medical issues negatively affected your GPA, you can explain these situations in your statement.

Professional Experience

Fields like business emphasize professional experience in the admissions process. In your statement of purpose, showcase your work experience and the specific skills you’ve developed that relate to your grad program. You can also detail how the skills and knowledge you gain as you earn the degree will help you advance your career after graduation.

Strong Entrance Exam Scores

Some graduate programs require standardized test scores. Whether you take the GRE, GMAT, LSAT or another exam, high scores can strengthen your application if you have lower grades.

Adequate preparation is essential to getting high test scores. Give yourself ample time to prepare by creating a schedule to incorporate daily practice for several weeks or months, which can help you build and review test-specific knowledge. Find study guides or courses that prepare you for the test. Take practice tests to understand exam structure, pacing and question formats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About GPAs for Grad School

What is a good gpa for grad school.

Many graduate programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA for admissions. More competitive programs generally admit applicants with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

What is the lowest GPA to get into grad school?

Grad schools often recommend a 3.0 GPA for admissions, but may accept candidates with a 2.5-2.9 GPA with provisional admission. If you have a lower GPA, consider retaking courses to raise your grades or take graduate courses to strengthen your application.

What are the odds of getting into grad school?

The odds of getting into grad school depend on the program and the strength of your application. If you’re interested in grad school but don’t have a high GPA, contact graduate programs for information on their admission policies.

How strict are GPA requirements for grad school?

The strictness of GPA requirements varies by institution. Some schools post a recommended GPA rather than a required minimum grade point average and evaluate applications holistically, offering conditional admissions for students who do not meet the recommended GPA. Reach out to specific programs on your list to learn more about their requirements.

What if my GPA is too low for grad school?

If your GPA is low for grad school, consider strengthening your application with standardized test scores, letters of recommendation and relevant research or work experience. You can also raise your GPA by retaking undergrad courses with low grades or taking graduate-level classes.

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Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and earned tenure at the University of Louisville. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in higher education, Genevieve provides practical, research-based advice on college degrees, career training and other higher education topics.

This calculator is being provided by the Office of the Graduate Programs Registrar only as an informational tool. The results are based only on the data that you provide. This calculator is not tied to the University Student Records System.

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Free GPA Calculator for College Students

Take the following 4 steps to use the tool:

• Choose the suitable grading standard – letters or percentages;
• Add the grades for a semester or a SGPA;
• Get the semester GPA and the CGPA;
• Add another semester if necessary.

👨‍🎓️ College GPA 101

• 🧮 How to Calculate My GPA?

✅ What Is a Good College GPA?

🎓 scholarships by gpa 2024.

• 🏆 10 Best GPA Calculators

🔗 References

Before we tell you how to calculate your GPA, there is an essential part of the understanding what does GPA stands for. We will answer some basic questions in this section.

What is GPA in College?

GPA, or Grade Point Average , is a tool to measure one’s academic performance in college.

Each semester there is a specific number of hours or credits you can learn by attending your lessons or completing exercises and writing papers.

At the end of the semester, your GPA is calculated to show your overall performance.

Here’s why it’s significant to know if your results are weighted or not. Weighted courses demand more efforts but increase your GPA more effectively. Learn how to check your GPA for the better understanding of the grading system.

Weighted Vs. Unweighted GPA –What's the Difference?

Most colleges use unweighted GPA .

That means all your grades are measured on a scale of 0 to 4 . When you earn an A, you get 4.0 on GPA scale.

But if your college uses weighted GPA, the scale might extend to 5.0 or even higher in some cases. It means, you can earn higher grades in specific courses.

Usually, they are tagged as AP or Honors classes, but you need to ask professors if these courses are weighted in your school or not.

Note that above on this page we are offering an unweighted college GPA calculator. This means that all of your courses have the same significance. If you need a weighted GPA calculator, check the tool we’ve made for high school students .

Why Is GPA Important?

For a regular student, studies are a marathon to earn the highest GPA. Why is that so significant?

Because your average GPA has a huge weight on your academic success.

The most significant function of GPA is the usage of this scoring system by universities when accepting graduates. But it also has other functions.

A list of situations where your GPA is necessary to estimate your skills includes:

• Applying for contests and college scholarships ,
• Participating in organizations,
• Getting hired,
• Joining college clubs,
• Ranking for medals and prizes.

There’s also a vital fact—if your GPA is low or some courses have low grades, there’s a danger of being expelled. This is the reason why students are so stressed out about calculating their GPA and finding tips to improve it.

What Is CGPA?

CGPA means Cumulative Grade Point Average . It is a standard method for measuring academic performance and for determining eligibility for scholarships, internships, and career opportunities of college students. It is calculated by taking into account the grades earned in all of the courses that a student has taken over a given period of time, usually an academic year.

🧮 Calculating GPA in College

Every student in some moment of their life is puzzled by the question “How to calculate college GPA?” We’re here to tell you—you can calculate it in a click by using the college GPA calculator above.

Don’t have Internet access or just want to understand how GPA is calculated?

In this chapter, you’ll see a step-by-step instruction on how to figure it out.

Here, you’ll also find useful scales that you can download to your device and use anytime for precise calculations!

Step 1 – List Your Courses

Write down the letter grades and credit hours for the semester. This data is given to you by the college.

Here ‘s an example:

Step 2 – Convert Letters into GPA

Convert your letter grades into GPA. Computing GPA on 4.0 scale is easy. All you need to do is to use one of the tables below.

There are 3 types of grading that your college may use. Let’s name them letters simple, letters extended, and percentage scales.

1 Letter Grades to GPA (Simple Version)

Looking for GPA converter on 4.0 scale? There’s no need to, because here’s a simple table you can remember or download to your device.

2 Letter Grades to GPA (Extended Version)

Some colleges choose the extended version of the scale to estimate students’ performance. This is the same table as before but with the addition of +/- equivalents.

3 Percentages to GPA

And the last grading scale is for those who gain percentages instead of letters. The usage is simple—find the range that contains your percentage grade and choose the appropriate GPA.

Step 3 – Calculate the Grade Points

For this purpose, you should multiply every course’s GPA by its credit hours. Then, find out its sum and the sum of credit hours.

For our grades, we get the following results:

Step 4 – Calculate the Semester GPA

Divide the number of grade points by the average of credit hours:

48.7/14 = 3.48

There it is! Your GPA is calculated, and now you can decide how to improve it.

But what if you’re looking for overall GPA? Then, you need to make the next step.

Step 5 – Calculate the Overall GPA

Calculate your overall GPA by dividing the sum of total grade points by the sum of total credit hours.

Sounds difficult?

Then, look at this example:

Grade Points sum / Credit Hours sum = Overall GPA 189/51 = 3.7

Now you can calculate both cumulative and overall GPA with the help of our examples and scales. The formula is easy to use, but we’re ready to answer your questions in comments!

We’re often asked by students if their GPA good/bad/needs improvement/enough and so on. This is great that you’re interested in your GPA improving because you’ll need at many situations in your life.

But the point is—this is a really relative issue. You are the only one who knows if your GPA is enough.

But we won’t leave you without any help, so let investigate some criteria that may help you with the decision.

College GPA Requirements

If you want to get into a medical, law, or business school after graduation, you need to do your best at gaining the highest GPA.

• You’ll need to get at least 3.7 to get into 10 top law schools and 2.7 to less successful ones.
• For medical schools , these numbers are—3.7 for top schools and 3.4 for others.
• For business schools , these numbers are—3.5 for top schools and 2.8 for others.

Note, that all these indicators are approximate, and you have to check every school you’re going to attend for their minimal requirements.

Also, mind that your expected GPA should be higher than the one you’re aiming at. Why? Because you shouldn’t only reach the lowest level. You also compete to be the best graduate.

GPA Requirements for Job

Some employers hire new candidates based on the combination of their skills, experience, and college GPA.

Such way isn’t a standard one, but many companies have high requirements in terms of your GPA. Try to make a list of places you want to work at and include their minimal GPA. It would motivate you to study harder and get better grades.

As a student, you may not miss the chance to win a scholarship for further studies or investigation. Many scholarships have a requirement related to GPA. This is particularly common for merit-based scholarships, which typically require a certain GPA. However, even scholarships based on financial need may have a minimum GPA requirement.

Minimum GPA 2.6 - 3.0

The full list is to be found at scholarships.com .

• Amount: $5,000
• Requirements: interest in a career in engineering, US citizenship or permanent residence in the state of Georgia, enrollment in a collegiate program accredited by ABET or ACCE.
• Amount: $20,000
• Requirements: being a high school senior, demonstrating leadership in school and community, commitment to making a positive social impact.
• Amount: $2,000
• Requirements: being a full-time undergraduate or graduate college student, majoring in biological sciences, having a 3.0 GPA.

Minimum GPA 3.1 - 3.5

• Requirements: being a freshman, 3.3 GPA, involvement in extra-curricular activities and citizenship.
• Amount: $2,500
• Requirements: being a female full-time undergraduate student, graduate student, or an early professional, pursuing a tech career in game development, being at least 21 years old, and having a 3.3 GPA.
• Amount: $10,000
• Requirements: being an incoming or current undergraduate student of a New Jersey college or university, having a disability, and having a 3.2 GPA.

Minimum GPA 3.6 - 4.0

• Requirements: being a US graduating high school senior, having an ACT of 28 or an SAT of 1240, 3.75 GPA, demonstrating financial need, and planning to attend a 4-year college.
• Amount: $54,304
• Requirements: being a first-year student with a STEM major, demonstrating interest in the STEM field, and having a 3.75 GPA.
• Requirements: being of Vietnamese descent, being a high school senior living in Northern California, attending college in the coming fall or summer, and having an unweighted GPA of 3.6.

🏆 10 Best College GPA Calculators

Want to know your GPA?

That’s easy!

And there are many online free tools to help you out.

We’ve collected 10 GPA and CGPA calculators that are extremely comfortable and helpful. All you need to do is to put in some information into one of these GPA counters.

1. Free GPA Calculator by IvyPanda

The college GPA calculator by IvyPanda is quick, user-friendly, and totally free. This unweighted GPA calculating tool allows you to use either percentage or letter grading system.

To calculate a semester GPA, you need to choose the suitable grading system – letters or percentages. Then you should add the courses and grades. After that, your semester GPA and the CGPA will be calculated automatically. You can add another semester if necessary.

2. GPACalculator.net

This website has the most comfortable calculator for estimating your GPA. You can add as many classes as you need, use a simple 5-point scale or a 13-point one, combine semester, and more.

The usage is easy:

• Enter your course name (if you want to).
• Choose the letter you earned based on your form.
• Choose the number of credits for the course based on your form.
• Repeat for every course.
• Add a new semester if you need to.

As long as you add new indicators, your semester and overall GPA change without even clicking a key-button.

This service has a convenient interface and pleasant design.

3. GPACalculator.io

Another user-friendly tool you should give a try!

Within this service, you can extract your GPA from letter grades in no time.

Remember that GPA isn’t just an average of your grades—you should also take into account the number of credits.

To figure out your college GPA, do the following steps:

• Name your course if needed.
• Choose your letter grade from the list.
• Enter the number of credits.
• Add semesters if needed.

Your list can be as long as you want. Include all the courses to see the whole picture.

4. UCSB Undergraduate Education

A useful tool to learn your study statistics.

Firstly, enter the total number of courses. Then, fill in the fields Course, # of Units and Letter Grade.

As soon as you’re done, click Calculate and know your GPA, Total Grade Points, and Grade-Point Balance.

5. Swarthmore College

This tool is appropriate for middle school and college students.

Standardly, you can enter up to 8 courses. That’s not really comfortable, but you can always upload the page and enter new courses.

It supports 5-point scale and 12-point scale, so enter any letters you need.

This service is also full of helpful material for college students. Learn more about GPA itself, classes’ shadowing, credits’ transferring, AP and IB credits, and more.

6. Calculator.net

Here you can count GPA for up to 10 subjects at once. The functional is as easy as always—put in your information and get instant results.

You can fill in any grades whether they have pluses and minuses or not.

The website also contains useful tips on how to raise GPA and improve your grades.

Following the two basic tips will help—attend classes carefully and plan your work as a pro.

7. Coastal Carolina University

Another quick way to figure out your GPA. There are actually three GPA calculators—two cumulative GPA tools and one to calculate your semester grades.

On the website, you’ll also find dozens of guides and useful info.

8. Snow College

This website combines GPA calculation tool with the table for converting letters’ grades to points.

Below the table, there’s also another tool to figure out your cumulative GPA. For this purpose, you need to know your previous GPA and credits.

On Snow College, you can also find Cost Calculator and useful study tips.

9. Scholaro GPA

Scholaro is an international GPA calculator that allows you to convert grades or points from any country to the U.S. grades and calculate GPA.

Choose the country and grading scale, type your grades and find out your GPA. The tool also allows you to save the GPA report.

Scholaro will be especially helpful for international students who plan to apply to US schools, colleges or universities.

10. College Simply

This is not only the way to learn your GPA. It’s also a great database to find a college you deserve.

College Simply has a specific database that can advise an appropriate college for any GPA. It also estimates your chances to get in these or other colleges.

The good point:

You can sort all the results by states.

❓ College GPA FAQ

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

• How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale - BigFuture
• What a Good College GPA Is and Why It Matters - USNews.com
• What Is a Good College GPA and How Can You Raise Yours?
• What's the Average College GPA? By Major? - PrepScholar Blog

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GPA Calculator

Use this college GPA calculator to easily calculate the cumulative grade point average (GPA) for a given semester. Enter letter grades (A, B-, C+, etc.) achieved on all relevant courses, as well as the credits for each course. The GPA is then weighted based on the number of credits.

Related calculators

• How to calculate your GPA
• High school GPA vs college GPA
• How to convert a letter grade to points
• Frequently asked questions

Do P/NP (Pass/No Pass) courses get factored in GPA?

Do incompletes (i) or withdrawals (w) receive grade points, how are advanced placement or honors courses counted,     how to calculate your gpa.

With the help of this GPA calculator you can calculate your GPA weighted by the number of credits for each course. This is often referred to as CGPA which may stand for "cumulative GPA" or "college GPA". GPA itself stands for Grade Point Average. The software will also compute the sum total of credits from all courses.

To use the calculator, enter the number of courses you have completed (or intend to complete) and then for each course enter the letter grade or expected grade as well as the number of credits it contributes. The overall GPA is weighted based on the number of credits. This means that if you have special courses which are weighted more heavily, you can alter the number of credits to get an exact calculation. For example, if a course has double the weight, just double its credits. Likewise, if it only weighs half as much as other courses, slash the number of credits in half.

For example, say there are four college courses, two of which are worth 3 credits and two are worth 4 credits. Additionally, one of the latter is considered a special course worth 1.5 times a regular course. If you had A-, B, A and B+ respectively, enter these grades and then enter the weights 3, 3, 4, 6 (4 x 1.5 = 6). This way the weighted GPA will correctly reflect the differential contribution of each course.

    High school GPA vs college GPA

This calculator can be used for computing both high-school GPA and college GPA, as long as they use the same GPA scale. If you enter grade points directly, then it makes zero difference what kind of grade point average you are looking to get as it becomes a simple weighted average math, no conversion is involved.

    How to convert a letter grade to points

Our GPA calculator uses the following table to convert letter grades to grade points for the purpose of computing their weighted average.

If you know the grade points instead of the letter grades, it is preferable to enter them directly. This will ensure the best possible alignment with the GPA scale used by your educational institution.

    Frequently asked questions

Below are answer to the most common questions students have when calculating their GPA.

No, P/NP (Pass /No Pass) courses should not be factored in the calculation of a student’s grade point average. Such courses do not result in letter grades or grade points and hence cannot be used in the calculation.

No. Such do not receive grade points or letter grades and therefore have no effect on a student's weighted GPA.

Different educational institutions would have different rules for factoring these in. Some would add half a point or a whole point to the course grade, whereas others would adjust the credits for the course by a multiplier. You should contact the college or university you are interested in for information on this before using our tool.

Cite this calculator & page

If you'd like to cite this online calculator resource and information as provided on the page, you can use the following citation: Georgiev G.Z., "GPA Calculator" , [online] Available at: https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/gpa-calculator.php URL [Accessed Date: 19 Sep, 2024].

     Other calculators

Calculating GPA for graduate admission

We calculate your grade point average (GPA) differently depending on whether your transcript comes from an international or North American institution.

International GPA calculation

Minimum GPA requirements are under minimums from other countries . International GPA’s are not converted to the UVic grading scale. Instead, minimum requirements are determined using each country’s grading scale. International GPAs are designated First Class or Second Class.

We calculate international GPA on the most recent two years of your bachelor’s degree. If there is no clear date separation on the transcripts, we calculate GPA on the entire degree.

Canadian & American GPA calculation

GPA from institutions in Canada and the United States is calculated on your most recent eligible course work equivalent to 30 units at UVic.

• Ineligible course work includes: non-graded courses (for example, courses with pass/fail/complete grades), credit granted on the basis of life or work experience, or credit earned at institutions not recognized by UVic.
• 30 units at UVic are approximately equal to two years of full-time study. This reflects approximately 20 full-time, one-term courses valued at 1.5 units each. A full-time, one-term undergraduate course at UVic includes 3 hours of class time per week, not including labs or tutorials, for 13 weeks of instruction.

We calculate GPA using the credit/unit value and grading scale of the institution that awarded the degree. We then convert it to the UVic scale.

For example:

You have a bachelor’s degree from a Canadian university. Your university uses a grading scale where an A+ = 4.3 and a B = 3.0. The average full-time half-year course at your university is worth 3.0 credits.

We would calculate your GPA using your university’s grading scale and course credit values. Then we would convert this to the UVic scale.

Courses included

Our first step in calculating GPA is to review the transcript and eliminate any courses that are ineligible. Ineligible courses include non-graded courses (for example, courses with pass/fail/complete grades), credit granted on the basis of life or work experience, or credit earned at institutions not recognized by UVic.

Example for single term:

After eliminating the ineligible courses, we will count back 30 units from the date the degree was awarded. If the 30 unit mark falls in the middle of a term we will prorate that term to the units required to get to 30.

Upgrading for admission to graduate studies

If you have completed upper-level undergraduate course work or graduate non-degree course work that will raise your GPA for admission purposes, we may include this in your GPA calculation. Lower-level undergraduate course work cannot be used to upgrade your GPA. You’ll need to upgrade your courses for admission to graduate studies.

This applicant completed a bachelor’s degree. Their GPA, which was calculated on their most recent 30.0 eligible units, is below the minimum admission requirements of 5.0 (B).

Bachelor's degree,  60.0 units total GPA calculated on most recent 30.0 units: 4.8 (B-)

This applicant completed a term of upgrading courses after their degree and their term GPA for the upgraded courses is 7.33 (A-). The following is calculated for the upgrading term (taken after the bachelor's degree):

We add the upgrading courses to the GPA calculation for the bachelor’s degree, prorating the units in the bachelor’s degree so that the total is 30.0 units.

An admissions GPA of a master’s degree can also be upgraded, but only using graduate level courses taken after the master’s degree was awarded.

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Helpful Tools for Your WES Credential Evaluation

To ensure that the credential evaluation process is as easy to understand as possible, we’ve compiled a variety of WES tools and resources designed to help you at every stage of the process. Read below to learn more.  

1. Try the WES iGPA Calculator and Degree Equivalency Tool

Before you begin your credential evaluation, we recommend trying our two free tools: the WES iGPA Calculator and Degree Equivalency Tool . These tools provide a preview of your grade point average and degree equivalency in the United States or Canada.  

While these tools do not replace an official evaluation, the results can help you understand how your qualifications will be viewed by academic programs or employers in the U.S. or Canada.  If the results are not what you expected, you may need to gather more information or reconsider your j ob or academic plans in the U.S. or Canada.  

2. Read the WES Blog

The WES blog offers stories from newcomers, policy updates and analysis, applicant experiences, and advice that support immigrants, refugees, and international students. The Credential Advice section of the blog is updated regularly and offers in-depth tutorials and guidance to support you as you apply for a credential evaluation. Use this free resource and stay updated by subscribing to the WES Advisor monthly newsletter .  

3. Find Your Report Type  

If you’re not sure which type of evaluation report you need, visit our Evaluations & Fees page for guidance. If possible, contact your report recipient (for example, the hiring manager or admissions officer) and ask which type of credential evaluation report they require.  

There are two types of credential evaluation reports: Document-by-Document (DxD) and Course-by-Course (CxC). Here is a breakdown of each: 

• DxD : A standard DxD report identifies and describes each of your credentials—such as a degree or diploma—that you submit to WES. It also provides the name of the equivalent credential in terms of U.S. or Canadian education. A DxD is appropriate for immigration and employment purposes and for entering a college or university program as a first-year student. View a sample report.  
• CxC : Like the DxD , a CxC evaluation indicates the U.S. or Canadian equivalency for each credential you have earned. However, this evaluation also includes a detailed analysis of each course listed on your transcript. In addition to the equivalent credential, the CxC converts your semester credits and grades and calculates a GPA on a 4.0 scale. A CxC evaluation is most appropriate for meeting the requirements of licensing boards and higher education graduate programs. View a sample report.    

In addition to our standard credential evaluations, WES also offers an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for IRCC and a Global Records Verification Report for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).  

4. Preview Your Required Documents  

When you apply for a credential evaluation, you and your institution will need to provide required documents as supporting documentation. The required documents will vary, depending on your report type, the country where you were educated, level of study, and institution. To preview what we will need for your credential evaluation, use our Required Documents tool.  

Once you submit your application, you will be able to log in to My Account and see your list of required documents anytime.  

5. Calculate Your Costs  

A credential evaluation is an investment in your future education and career. But, before you apply, visit this page for pricing information and to estimate the cost of your evaluation report. Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on the type of report, delivery method, and number of recipients. Estimating your costs ahead of time will help you prepare for the expenses involved.  

6. Facilitate Electronic Document Submission  

Once you submit your application for a credential evaluation, your institution must submit additional documents to WES. We highly recommend submitting documents electronically. Ask your institution if it already has the option of electronically transmitting documents to WES. If it doesn’t currently have such an arrangement, we may still be able to accept documents from the institution electronically. You can ask institution that it complete our Digital Partnership Form and return the form to WES, and someone from our team will respond to the request.  

Read this blog post for more information about sending documents to WES electronically.  

7. Utilize the Help Center and Customer Support

The Help Center is a great resource before and after you apply for a credential evaluation. It provides answers to frequently asked questions and can direct you to the appropriate support. If you can’t find the answer to your question, our customer support team is available to provide additional assistance.   

Conclusion  

A WES report can support your goals of living, working, or studying abroad. We hope this guide is useful as you conduct research and make plans for the future. As you proceed, make sure to save and refer to these resources. They will help you prepare for the evaluation process and support you through it.  

Ready to get started? Begin your application today!  

Related Reading   What You Need to Know: Answers to Questions About WES Credential Evaluation Reports   The WES Credential Evaluation Process Explained   What is a credential evaluation?  

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