Last updated 23 August 2026
The 4.0 scale used here
A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, F = 0.0 — the standard scale most US institutions use.
Why credit hours matter
GPA is a weighted average, not a simple one. Each grade is converted to points, multiplied by that course's credit hours, and all of those are added up before dividing by the total credits. A 4-credit course pulls the average harder than a 1-credit one — which is exactly the point, since it represents more of your actual workload.
Common questions
How is GPA calculated?
Each grade converts to grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on), multiplied by that course's credit hours. Add all of those up, then divide by the total credit hours. A 4-credit A counts for more than a 2-credit A, which is what makes it a weighted average rather than a simple one.
Why does a course need credit hours, not just a grade?
A harder or larger course usually carries more credit hours, and it should count for more in the average. Without weighting by credits, a one-hour seminar and a four-hour core class would pull the GPA equally, which doesn't match how most institutions calculate it.
Does this match my school's exact scale?
It uses the standard US 4.0 scale with +/- increments, which most institutions follow, but some use different point values or don't use plus/minus grades at all. Check your school's official policy if you need an exact figure for a transcript.