Semester GPA Calculator

Calculate your GPA for this term from your courses, credit hours, and letter grades.

Your Semester GPA

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0 credits · 0 quality points

Course Name Credit Hours Grade
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Target Semester GPA

Enter a goal GPA to see how many quality points you still need and what average grade you need on your remaining courses.

How this is calculated

GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits) grade points = numeric value of your letter grade credits = credit hours for that course Σ (sigma) = sum all rows Worked example: Calculus I (4 cr, A) → 4.0 × 4 = 16.0 points Chemistry (3 cr, B) → 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 points English (3 cr, A-) → 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 points Biology (4 cr, B+) → 3.3 × 4 = 13.2 points GPA = (16.0 + 9.0 + 11.1 + 13.2) ÷ (4 + 3 + 3 + 4) = 49.3 ÷ 14 = 3.52 (rounded to 2 decimals)

Which grades count and which do not

Pass / No Pass (P/NP)

Courses graded P/NP (or S/U, Credit/No Credit, or similar) are typically excluded from GPA at most institutions. A P (pass) does not add to your GPA, and an NP (no pass) does not count as an F—it simply does not factor into the calculation at all. Check your registrar's policy to be sure; a few schools do count P as a passing grade.

Withdrawals (W)

A W (withdrawal) appears on your transcript but does not affect your GPA. It is neither a failing grade nor a zero—it means you withdrew from the course within the allowed window. W grades are excluded from both the numerator and denominator of the GPA calculation.

Incomplete (I)

An incomplete (I) typically does not affect your GPA until it is replaced by a letter grade. Once you complete the work, the I converts to a letter grade (A, B, C, etc.) and then contributes to your GPA. Verify with your registrar how long you have to resolve an incomplete and whether it affects academic standing in the meantime.

Repeated Courses

If you retake a course, most institutions either (a) count both attempts and average them into your GPA, or (b) count only the most recent grade and remove the earlier one. A few schools drop the lower grade automatically; others require you to request grade replacement. This calculator includes every course you enter—if your school uses grade replacement, remove the earlier attempt from the list. Check your school's grade replacement policy.

Semester GPA vs. Cumulative GPA

Semester GPA is the average of all graded courses in a single term (fall, spring, summer, etc.), weighted by credits. It appears on your transcript at the end of each semester and shows how you performed in that specific period. Many schools use it to calculate progress, dean's list eligibility, and academic standing decisions for the next term.

Cumulative GPA is the average of every graded course across your entire degree, weighted by credits. It combines every semester you have completed and is your "overall" GPA. Graduate schools, employers, and some scholarships focus on cumulative GPA because it reflects your full academic history, not just one term.

This calculator computes semester GPA only. To find your cumulative GPA, you would include all completed semesters. Most student portals display both side-by-side.

For cumulative GPA calculation, see our Cumulative GPA Calculator.

FAQ

What if I have a course with zero credit hours?

A zero-credit course (such as a zero-credit lab that accompanies another course) contributes no points and no credits to the GPA calculation—it is simply ignored. Enter it if you want a full transcript summary, and it will not affect your GPA.

What if my entire semester is Pass/No Pass?

If all your courses are graded P/NP and none have letter grades, your semester GPA cannot be calculated—it will show as an em-dash (—). This is correct: GPA is only defined when there is at least one graded course. Your transcript will note the P/NP courses without a GPA.

Why does my school's A+ grade equal 4.0, not 4.3?

Some schools award 4.0 for an A+, while others award 4.3. The standard "4.0 scale" tops out at 4.0 and treats A+ as equivalent to A. However, MIT and other institutions use a 4.3 or even 5.0 scale to distinguish top performance. Check your registrar's grading policy and use the "Edit grade point values" toggle above to adjust the A+ value to match your school.

Can I use this calculator for cumulative GPA?

This calculator is designed for a single semester. For cumulative GPA (which combines all completed semesters), see our Cumulative GPA Calculator. Alternatively, you can enter all your completed courses from every semester into this tool and it will compute the overall average—but the label will be semester GPA.

How do I know what credit hours each course is worth?

Check your course syllabus, your school's course catalog, or your student portal (e.g., Canvas, Banner, or your registrar's website). Most courses are 3 or 4 credits; labs are often 1 credit; some courses are 2 credits. When in doubt, ask your registrar or department.

Does GPA include transfer credits?

Usually not. Most schools do not include transfer credits in your GPA calculation—they appear on your transcript as transfer credits (often labeled "TR") and are not counted. Confirm with your registrar whether transfer courses affect your GPA at your institution.

Related tools

Cumulative GPA Calculator — Combine all your semesters to find your overall GPA.

Percentage to Letter Grade — Convert a numeric score to a letter grade.

GPA Calculator — General-purpose GPA tool with multiple calculation modes.

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