🎓 US GPA Scale Explained
GPA (Grade Point Average) is the single number US colleges, scholarship committees, and employers use to judge your academic performance. But there are two different scales — and most students don't know the difference.
US GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale (unweighted): A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0. Weighted GPAs go up to 5.0 for AP/Honors. Calculate yours with the GPA Calculator.
📊 Letter Grade to GPA Conversion
| Letter | Percentage | Unweighted | AP/Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 97–100% | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| A− | 90–96% | 3.7 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 | 3.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 | 0.0 |
🧮 How to Calculate Your GPA (Step-by-Step)
GPA = Total Grade Points ÷ Total Credits
Real example with 5 courses:
- English (3 credits) — A = 4.0 × 3 = 12 pts
- Math (4 credits) — B+ = 3.3 × 4 = 13.2 pts
- History (3 credits) — A− = 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 pts
- Science (4 credits) — B = 3.0 × 4 = 12.0 pts
- PE (1 credit) — A = 4.0 × 1 = 4.0 pts
- Total: 52.3 pts ÷ 15 credits = 3.49 GPA
Do this automatically with the GPA Calculator.
⚖️ Unweighted vs Weighted GPA
All classes treated the same. A = 4.0, no matter the difficulty. Easier to compare across schools.
AP/Honors get a boost: A in AP = 5.0. Rewards students for taking harder classes.
🎯 What's a Good GPA?
- 3.8–4.0 — Ivy League / top-tier schools
- 3.5–3.7 — Competitive for most US colleges
- 3.0–3.4 — Meets scholarship requirements at many schools
- 2.5–2.9 — Many state universities accept
- 2.0 — Minimum for HS graduation, most colleges
A 3.2 GPA that improved from 2.8 to 3.6 over 4 years is often viewed more favorably than a flat 3.2. Colleges look for upward trends — especially in junior/senior year courses.
❓ FAQ
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
Yes — a 3.5 unweighted GPA is competitive at most US colleges, and qualifies for many merit scholarships. It places you above the national average (~3.0).
What's the highest GPA possible?
Unweighted: 4.0. Weighted: 5.0 (or higher at some schools that give extra AP boosts). Some schools also offer a 6.0 scale for IB courses.
Do colleges recalculate my GPA?
Most competitive colleges recalculate GPA using their own method — usually unweighted and only core academic courses (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language). Extras like PE are often excluded.
How do I raise my GPA fast?
Take AP/Honors classes (they boost weighted GPA), retake low-grade courses if your school allows, and focus on A's in high-credit courses. Even one semester of straight A's can move a 3.0 to a 3.3.
Calculate Your GPA
Free calculator — add courses, grades, and credits for instant GPA.
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