Cumulative GPA Calculator

Calculate a cumulative GPA from credits and grades

A cumulative GPA (grade point average) is usually a weighted average. “Weighted” means classes with more credits count more. This Cumulative GPA Calculator helps you compute your overall GPA from a list of courses, or update an existing GPA by adding new courses from your latest term. You get a clean result plus the key parts behind it: total credits and total quality points, so you can sanity-check your numbers.

The fastest way to use this calculator is to choose your GPA scale (most people use a 4.0 scale), then add a few courses. Enter the credits for each course and the grade points you received for that course on the selected scale. For example, on a 4.0 scale an A is often 4.0, a B is often 3.0, and so on. If you are not sure of the exact conversion at your institution, you can still use this calculator as a practical estimate by using the grade points shown on your transcript or syllabus.

If you already have a cumulative GPA and want to see how new results change it, use the “Update an existing cumulative GPA” mode. Enter your total completed credits and, if you know it, your current cumulative GPA. Then add the new courses you completed (or expect to complete). The calculator combines your prior quality points with your new quality points to produce an updated cumulative GPA.

The optional planning fields are for people who want a second insight, not just a single number. If you enter a target GPA and the number of future credits you still plan to take, the calculator estimates the average GPA you would need on those future credits to reach the target. This is useful for deciding whether a goal is realistic and what kind of term performance you need to aim for.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• The calculator assumes GPA is a credit-weighted average: total quality points divided by total credits.
• Grade points must be entered on the same scale you select (4.0, 5.0, 7.0, or 10.0). Mixing scales will give wrong results.
• Credits must be positive. If your institution uses “units” or “credit hours,” treat them as credits for weighting.
• Pass/Fail, audit, withdrawals, and non-GPA courses are excluded unless you intentionally include them with appropriate grade points (often 0 or not counted, depending on rules).
• “Target GPA” planning assumes future credits will count toward GPA in the same way as past credits and that the scale stays the same.

Common questions

What is “quality points” and why does it matter?

Quality points are simply grade points multiplied by credits for a course. A 4-credit class at 3.5 grade points contributes 14.0 quality points. Your cumulative GPA is the sum of all quality points divided by the sum of all credits. Showing quality points makes it easy to verify your inputs and understand which courses affect your GPA the most.

Do I have to enter every course I have ever taken?

No. If you want an exact GPA from scratch, entering every course is the most accurate. But if you already have a current cumulative GPA and total credits, you can use the update mode and only enter new courses. That is usually the quickest and most realistic approach for students.

My school uses letter grades. What should I enter?

Enter the grade points equivalent for your institution on your chosen scale. Many systems are close to A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0 on a 4.0 scale, but your school may use plus/minus values (like 3.7 or 3.3). If you have a transcript, it often lists grade points directly.

What if a course is pass/fail or doesn’t count toward GPA?

If the course does not affect GPA at your institution, the cleanest approach is to leave it out. If you must include it for some internal reason, you would need to mimic your school’s rule, which is typically either “does not count” or “counts as 0 grade points” in some cases. This calculator cannot guess your school’s policy, so excluding it is usually safest.

How accurate is the “required average to hit a target GPA” estimate?

It is mathematically correct under the assumptions: same scale, future credits count the same way, and your target is reachable given the scale maximum. Real life can differ because schools may cap repeat credits, treat retakes differently, or exclude certain modules. Use it as a planning guide, then confirm with your academic rules if the decision is important.