Semester GPA Calculator
Calculate your semester GPA from credits and grades
Enter up to 8 courses. For each course, enter credits and either a letter grade (A, B+, C-) or a grade points value (like 3.7). Leave unused rows blank.
Semester GPA calculator for course credits and grades
A semester GPA is usually a weighted average. That means a 4-credit class has more impact than a 1-credit class, even if the grades are the same. This semester GPA calculator helps you total your semester credits, convert each grade into grade points, and compute a single GPA number for the term.
This page is built for real usage, not a perfect transcript. If you only know letter grades, enter A, B+, C-, and so on. If your school provides grade points directly, you can enter the numeric value instead (for example 3.7). Leave unused course rows blank. The calculator ignores empty rows and only uses the courses that have both credits and a grade.
The output includes your semester GPA, your total credits counted, and your total quality points. Quality points are simply credits multiplied by grade points for each course. The calculator also includes a quick “what if” scenario showing how your semester GPA would change if you improved your highest-credit course by one small step, because the easiest way to raise a GPA is often to target the classes that carry the most credits.
Assumptions and how to use this calculator
- This calculator assumes a 4.0 GPA scale, where A and A+ both map to 4.0, and F maps to 0.0.
- Plus and minus grades use common point steps (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B- = 2.7, etc.).
- If you enter a numeric grade value, it is treated as grade points (0.0 to 4.0), not a percentage score.
- Only rows with both credits and a grade are counted. Empty rows are ignored.
- Repeated courses, pass/fail grading, and institutional rules (like “exclude failed credits”) can differ by school, so confirm what your transcript includes if results look off.
Common questions
What is the difference between GPA and grade percentage?
A percentage is a raw score (like 78%). A GPA is a converted points value (like 3.3) that makes grades comparable across courses, often with caps and rounding rules. This calculator uses a 4.0 points system. If your institution publishes a conversion chart, you can still use this tool by entering the grade points directly instead of letters.
Why do credits matter so much for semester GPA?
Because semester GPA is normally weighted. A 4-credit course contributes four times as many quality points as a 1-credit course at the same grade. If you are trying to raise your semester GPA, improving a high-credit course usually has the biggest effect.
What if I only have some of my grades so far?
You can still get a useful estimate. Enter the courses you know and leave the rest blank. The calculator will compute a GPA for the included courses only. Treat it as “current GPA for graded courses,” not your final semester GPA, until all course results are included.
What should I enter for grades like “Pass” or “Incomplete”?
If a course is pass/fail and does not affect GPA at your school, do not include it. If your school assigns grade points for a pass, enter the grade points value directly (for example 4.0 or 3.0) and the course credits. For incomplete or deferred grades, leave the row blank until a final grade is issued.
Why does the improvement scenario use a “small step” instead of a full letter grade?
The scenario is meant to be a practical sensitivity check. Many real outcomes move by a small amount (like B to B+), not always a full letter jump. The tool estimates a modest increase in grade points for your highest-credit course and shows the approximate GPA change so you can see where effort is most valuable.
