Calculate Semester GPA from Letters
Published July 16, 2026By Samson PG
Semester GPA is credit-weighted letter grades, not the average of percentages. One three-credit A and one four-credit B is not “halfway to 3.5” by eye.
Semester GPA on a 4.0 scale is:
GPA = (sum of grade points × credits) ÷ (sum of credits)
Letter grades map to points (typical unweighted): A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, etc. Your school’s catalog wins if it differs.
Worked mini-example
| Course | Credits | Letter | Points | Points × credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chem | 4 | A | 4.0 | 16.0 |
| History | 3 | B | 3.0 | 9.0 |
| Total | 7 | 25.0 |
GPA = 25.0 ÷ 7 ≈ 3.57.
Weighted vs unweighted
Honors/AP sometimes add +0.5 or +1.0 to the points before multiplying by credits. That is weighted GPA. Unweighted ignores those bumps. Details: weighted vs unweighted.
Privacy
You do not need to paste a full transcript into a random site. A browser GPA tool keeps the rows on your device.
Use TryCalculatingNow GPA Calculator
TryCalculatingNow GPA Calculator adds courses, credits, and letters (optional weighted) — free, no signup.
Also: should you paste GPA online?.
FAQ
Is semester GPA the same as cumulative?
No. Cumulative folds all terms. Enter prior GPA + credits only if your tool supports a running total.
Do pass/fail courses count?
Often zero grade points and sometimes zero credits toward GPA — check policy.
Percent grades to GPA?
Convert with your school’s letter cutoffs first, then use the letter scale.