Cumulative GPA Calculator
Add this semester’s courses to your current GPA and credits to see your new cumulative GPA, how much it changed, and what you need next term to hit a target.
Find your new cumulative GPA
Enter your GPA and credits so far, then your current courses with grades and credits. The calculator weights everything by credits, which is how colleges combine terms. It also handles retakes and a target GPA. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
1. Your record so far
Use your GPA and credits from your transcript or student portal, or enter your past terms one by one.
2. This semester’s courses
Use the grades you have or the grades you expect. For a retake, pick the old grade so it is removed from your record.
| Course | Grade | Credits | Retake? | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Quality points: 196.7 over 60 credits (previous GPA 3.20)
3. Target GPA (optional)
Enter the cumulative GPA you want after this semester. We use the credits from your courses above.
How to use the calculator
- Enter your record so far. Type your cumulative GPA and total GPA credits. If you only have term GPAs, switch to that option and add each term.
- Add this semester’s courses. Pick a letter grade and the credits for each one.
- Mark retakes. If a course replaces an earlier attempt, choose the old grade in the Retake column.
- Read the result. You see your new cumulative GPA, this semester’s GPA and the change.
- Set a target. Enter the GPA you want to find the semester GPA you would need.
How cumulative GPA is calculated
Your cumulative GPA is the total of all quality points divided by the total credits attempted. Quality points are grade points multiplied by credits.
Here is a worked example. A student has a 3.20 GPA over 45 credits, which is 3.20 × 45 = 144.0 quality points. This semester they take five courses:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus I | A− | 4 | 14.8 |
| English 101 | B+ | 3 | 9.9 |
| Chemistry | B | 4 | 12.0 |
| History | A | 3 | 12.0 |
| PE | A | 1 | 4.0 |
| Total | 15 | 52.7 |
This semester adds 52.7 quality points over 15 credits, so the semester GPA is 52.7 ÷ 15 = 3.51. The new total is 144.0 + 52.7 = 196.7 quality points over 45 + 15 = 60 credits. The cumulative GPA is 196.7 ÷ 60 = 3.28, up 0.08 from 3.20.
Grade points used
The calculator uses the common 4.0 plus/minus scale. Your school may differ, so check its table.
| Letter grade | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A+ / 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 |
| D− | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
A+ is counted as 4.0. Some schools give an A+ 4.3. Weighted grades such as honors and AP need the high school GPA calculator.
How much can one semester change your GPA?
The more credits you have already, the less a single semester moves your GPA. Using the same student (3.20 over 45 credits) and a 15-credit semester:
| Semester GPA | New quality points | New cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 30.0 | 2.90 |
| 3.0 | 45.0 | 3.15 |
| 4.0 | 60.0 | 3.40 |
A perfect 4.0 semester lifts the GPA by 0.20, and a 2.0 semester lowers it by 0.30. Early in a degree, a good term has a large effect. Later, it takes several terms to move the number much.
Combining term GPAs
If you only know each term’s GPA, weight each one by its credits. Do not simply average them. Suppose you had a 3.50 over 15 credits and a 3.00 over 12 credits. The weighted result is (3.50 × 15 + 3.00 × 12) ÷ 27 = 88.5 ÷ 27 = 3.28. A plain average of 3.50 and 3.00 would give 3.25, which is wrong because the terms have different credits.
What happens when you retake a course?
It depends on your school. Some schools replace the old grade, some average the attempts and some count both. When the new grade replaces the old one, the old quality points and credits are removed first. In the example, suppose the 4-credit Chemistry course with a B is a retake of a C (2.0 × 4 = 8.0 points). Then the previous total becomes 144.0 − 8.0 = 136.0 points over 41 credits. Adding 52.7 points and 15 credits gives 188.7 ÷ 56 = 3.37. Always check your school’s repeat policy before relying on this.
Weighted or unweighted?
College cumulative GPAs are normally unweighted and top out at 4.0. High schools often add weight for honors and AP courses. If your record is weighted, use the high school GPA calculator. For the basics of the method, read how to calculate GPA.
How to raise your cumulative GPA
- Put effort where credits are. A 4-credit course moves your GPA more than a 1-credit course.
- Use the target tool. It shows the semester GPA you need, so you can check if the goal is realistic.
- Check your final exams. The final grade calculator shows what you need on the exam.
- Ask about retakes. If your school replaces grades, retaking a low-grade course can help.
- Be patient. With many credits behind you, improvement is gradual. Aim for steady terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cumulative GPA?
It is your overall GPA across all terms, weighted by credits. It is sometimes called CGPA.
How do I find my current cumulative GPA?
Look at your transcript or student portal. It usually lists the cumulative GPA and the total GPA credits, sometimes called credits attempted.
Can I calculate cumulative GPA from semester GPAs?
Yes, but weight each semester GPA by its credits. Use the second option in step 1 and add each term.
Do pass/fail and withdrawn courses count?
Usually not. Leave them out of the calculator. Failed courses do count, so enter them with an F.
Do transfer credits count?
That depends on the school. Many schools accept transfer credits but do not include the grades in your GPA. Check your policy.
Why is my result different from my portal?
Schools differ in scales, A+ values, repeat rules and rounding. Treat this as an estimate and confirm with your registrar.
Is a cumulative GPA the same as an overall GPA?
In most cases, yes. Both mean the combined GPA across all of your graded courses.
What is a good cumulative GPA?
It depends on your goals. Many programs and honors lists set their own cutoffs, so see our guides on a 3.5 GPA, a 4.0 GPA and the Dean’s List.
More calculators and guides
- GPA & CGPA Calculator
- High School GPA Calculator
- Final Grade Calculator
- Letter Grade Calculator
- How to Calculate GPA
- Grading Scales Explained
- All calculators
Results are estimates for guidance. Please confirm your official GPA with your school.