Cumulative GPA Calculator

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is more than just a number on a transcript; it is a quantitative representation of your academic consistency over time. While a semester GPA gives you a snapshot of your performance in a few months, your Cumulative GPA tells the complete story of your high school or college career.

How to Use This Calculator

1. Entering Prior Data (Optional)

If you already have a GPA from previous semesters, you don’t need to re-enter every single course you have ever taken.

• Current GPA: Enter your cumulative GPA as it appears on your last transcript.
• Total Credits: Enter the total number of credit hours you have earned so far.
• Note: If you are starting fresh, simply leave this section blank.

2. Adding Semesters

Academic progress happens in blocks. Click “+ Add Semester” to create a new term. You can calculate the impact of a single upcoming semester or map out your entire remaining degree plan by adding multiple semesters at once.

3. Inputting Course Details

For each class, you will need three pieces of information:

• Course Name: Optional, but helpful for organization (e.g., “Math 101”).
• Grade: The letter grade you received or expect to receive.
• Credits: The credit hours assigned to the course (usually 3 or 4 for college courses, 0.5 or 1.0 for high school).

4. Handling Weighted Grades

If you are taking advanced classes, accurate calculation requires weighting.

• Toggle the “Weighted” switch to ON for the specific semester.
• In the Weight dropdown, select the type of class (Honors, AP, IB, or College).
• The calculator will automatically add the appropriate point boost (+0.5 for Honors, +1.0 for AP/IB/College) to that specific course.

How Cumulative GPA is Calculated

The formula used by universities and high schools generally follows this structure:

Cumulative GPA = Total Grade Points / Total Credit Hours

Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA

Most colleges use an Unweighted Scale (0.0 to 4.0) for standard admissions data to keep things fair across different schools. However, high schools often use a Weighted Scale (up to 5.0 or higher) to reward students for taking rigorous coursework.

• Unweighted: Treats an “A” in P.E. the same as an “A” in Calculus. It measures raw performance.
• Weighted: Adds bonus points for difficulty.
  • Honors: Typically adds 0.5 points. (An “A” becomes a 4.5).
  • AP / IB / Dual Enrollment: Typically adds 1.0 point. (An “A” becomes a 5.0).

Tip: If your school uses a different weighting system, stick to the “Regular” setting and manually adjust your grade input (e.g., entering an A+ if it counts as a 4.3) to match your transcript.

FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between Semester GPA and Cumulative GPA?

A:Semester GPA is your average for one specific term (Fall or Spring). Cumulative GPA includes all grades earned from the beginning of your program up to the present day.

Q2. How do Pass/Fail classes affect my calculation?

A: Generally, Pass/Fail (P/F) or Credit/No-Credit (CR/NC) courses do not affect your GPA. They add to your total credits earned (for graduation) but are excluded from the GPA calculation formula. You should not enter these courses into the calculator unless your specific institution assigns them a point value.

Q3. What is a “Good” Cumulative GPA?

• A: 3.5 – 4.0: Often required for the Dean’s List and Honors programs.
• 3.0 – 3.4: Considering “Good” standing; satisfies most graduation and financial aid requirements.
• 2.0: The typical cutoff for academic probation. Falling below this often puts a student at risk of suspension.

Sources: GPA Calculator.io, GPA Calculator.net, College of Charleston, Saint Paul College, University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Florida State University, Concordia University Irvine, Weber State University.