Semester and Cumulative GPA Calculator

How to Calculate Cumulative GPA

GPA is just a weighted average. Each letter grade turns into grade points, you multiply those points by the course’s credit hours, add everything up, then divide by your total credits. A 4-credit course moves your GPA more than a 1-credit lab, so credits matter as much as grades.

1. Convert each grade to points using your school’s scale (see the chart below).
2. Multiply points by credit hours for every course. The result is called quality points.
3. Add up all the quality points.
4. Divide by the total credit hours. That’s your GPA.

Worked example: one semester

46.0 ÷ 13 = 3.54 semester GPA.

Worked example: cumulative GPA

Say you came into the semester with a 3.40 GPA over 45 credits. That’s 3.40 × 45 = 153.0 quality points. Add this semester’s 46.0 points and you get 199.0 points over 58 credits (45 + 13). So 199.0 ÷ 58 = 3.43 cumulative GPA.

Notice that a 3.54 semester only moved you from 3.40 to 3.43. The more credits you’ve already banked, the slower your cumulative GPA changes, which is why early semesters matter so much.

Grading Scale Chart (4.0 Scale)

This is the default scale the calculator above uses. The percentage ranges are a common U.S. convention, but they vary from school to school, so check your own transcript or student handbook.

Weighted courses: when you switch on the Weighted toggle, this calculator adds 0.5 points for Honors and 1.0 for AP/IB. The bonus only applies to passing grades, so an F stays at 0.0. Your school may use different weights, and you can change any value under “Custom Grading Scale Mappings” in the calculator.

GPA Calculator FAQs

What’s the difference between GPA and CGPA?

GPA usually means your average for one term. CGPA (cumulative GPA) is your average across every term so far. The math is the same, just over a bigger set of courses, which is the cumulative formula shown above. Some countries and universities also use scales other than 4.0, like 5 or 10, so always check which scale your CGPA is on.

How do I convert my CGPA or percentage to a 4.0 scale for a scholarship?

There’s no single official formula. Universities and scholarship programs use their own conversion tables, and some ask for a credential evaluation from a service like WES. Scaling your CGPA proportionally (for example, a 10-point CGPA divided by 10 and multiplied by 4) only gives you a rough idea and can differ from what the selection committee calculates. Look for a stated conversion or minimum on the scholarship’s official page, and use the grading legend on your own transcript.

What GPA do I need to get a scholarship?

There’s no universal number. Each program sets its own rules, and they’re normally listed on the official scholarship page. Some state a minimum grade or an equivalent, while others rank applicants against each other, so meeting the minimum doesn’t guarantee selection. Strong grades help, but most scholarships also look at your motivation letter, references, and research or work experience.

Do failed or repeated courses, and weighted grades, change my GPA?

An F counts as 0.0 grade points, and its credits still go into the total, so it pulls your GPA down. If you retake a course, some schools replace the old grade while others average both, so ask your registrar. For weighted versus unweighted GPA, check which one the application form asks for before you enter a number.