How it’s calculated
Each letter grade has a point value. Multiply it by the course's credit hours to get quality points; GPA is total quality points divided by total credits attempted. A grade of F earns 0 points but its credits still count.
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A− | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C− | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ / D / D− | 1.3 / 1.0 / 0.7 |
| B− | 2.7 | F | 0.0 |
Example (from the University of Maryland registrar): A in a 3-credit course = 12 points; B− in 3 credits = 8.1; C+ in 4 credits = 9.2; F in 3 credits = 0. Total 29.3 points ÷ 13 credits = 2.2538…, shown as 2.25 (UMD truncates to 2.253).
Cumulative example: a previous 3.20 GPA over 30 credits is 96 quality points. Adding the term above gives (96 + 29.3) ÷ (30 + 13) = 125.3 ÷ 43 = 2.91.
Schools differ: some give A+ 4.3, use 3.67/3.33 for minus/plus grades, or exclude pass/fail and withdrawn courses. Check your registrar's rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do pass/fail courses count?
Usually not. Pass/fail, audit and withdrawn courses are typically excluded from GPA. Leave them out (credits = 0).
Is GPA rounded or truncated?
It depends on the school. Some truncate (2.253 → 2.25), others round. This calculator rounds to two decimals.
I took more than eight courses. What do I do?
Enter eight courses and note the GPA and credits. Then enter that GPA and credit total as "previous" and the remaining courses in the rows. The new cumulative GPA covers all of them.
How do I raise my cumulative GPA?
Enter your current GPA and credits as "previous", then try different grades for upcoming courses to see the effect.
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Sources
- GPA Calculation — University of Maryland, Office of the Registrar
Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.
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