Your college GPA weights each course by its credit hours. Enter your courses and credit hours below.
Why credit hours drive your college GPA
College courses vary far more in weight than high school classes, so credit hours matter a great deal. A four credit science course with a lab affects your average twice as much as a two credit seminar, even though both appear as a single line on your schedule.
This has a practical consequence when you are deciding where to spend study time. If two courses compete for your attention late in the term, the higher credit course has more leverage over your GPA, so a small improvement there often outweighs a larger improvement in a low credit class.
Enter only the current term to see your semester GPA, or enter every course on record to see your cumulative GPA. Pass or fail courses usually carry credits but no grade points, so leave those out of the calculation.
The formula
Worked example
A 4-credit lab with a B (3.0) contributes 12.0; a 3-credit seminar with an A (4.0) contributes 12.0. Total 24.0 over 7 credits = 3.43.
How to read your result
Credit hours matter more in college because courses vary widely in weight. A strong grade in a 4-credit course moves your GPA more than the same grade in a 1-credit course.
Frequently asked questions
- What about cumulative vs semester GPA?
- Enter only this term for semester GPA; enter all courses to date for cumulative GPA.
- Do pass/fail courses count?
- Usually no - pass/fail courses typically carry credits but no grade points, so leave them out.
- How do I raise my GPA?
- Higher-credit courses have the biggest effect, so focus effort where the credit weight is largest.
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