How To Calculate Your GPA
Knowing how to calculate your GPA is essential for college students. Many scholarships require a minimum GPA, as do some programs and internships. But, surprisingly, a lot of students don’t know how to calculate their own GPA.
Your grade point average is an important part of your transcript. I’ve included a tutorial to calculate it manually, but be sure to check out the link at the bottom for a super easy to use calculator.
How to Calculate Your GPA
To calculate your GPA you’ll need to know your average and the weight/credit (number of hours) for each class. You get a certain number of grade points for each class, depending on your grade. Points are awarded according to the chart below.
A=4 points
B=3 points
C=2 points
D=1 point
W/F = 0 points
Multiply the grade points by the weight of the class. For example, if your biology class is 4 hours and you made a B, you get 12 points for that class. Find all the points for every class and add them up. Then add up the total hours of all classes. To find your GPA, you divide total grade points by total number of hours
Here’s an example transcript:
| Class | Grade | Hours | Points | Grade Points | |
| Biology | A | 4 | 4 | 16 | |
| English | B | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
| Calculus | C | 4 | 2 | 8 | |
| Economics | A | 3 | 4 | 12 | |
| Speech | A | 2 | 4 | 8 | |
| 16 | 53 |
GPA = GRADE POINTS / TOTAL HOURS
3.3125 = 53 / 16 –> This student has a B.
GPA Calculators
If that’s just too complicated, time-consuming, or you’re lazy (like me); here’s a GPA calculator for you provided by Back2College. It makes everything wonderfully simple.
Another great calculator is this one, provided by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
How to Raise Your GPA
If your GPA is looking less-than-stellar, there is still hope! This handy calculator helps you determine how you can raise your GPA in college.
The best way to keep your GPA up is to know your GPA! If you are always aware of your grades, you don’t risk getting a particularly low one that will have the nasty effect of majorly dropping your cumulative GPA.
