GPA / Average Calculator (Simple, Transparent)
This calculator computes your term GPA from a list of courses (credits + grade), and optionally
combines it with your previous cumulative GPA to produce a new cumulative GPA.
The result is based on the standard “quality points” method used by most schools.
What you enter
- Scale preset: choose a GPA scale such as
4.0 (common) or 4.3 (if your school uses it).
- Grade mapping: choose a preset mapping (letter → quality points). Some versions also allow an editable mapping.
- Courses table (repeatable): course name, credits, and a grade (letter or percent, depending on the mode).
- Include / exclude from GPA: pass/fail or excluded courses do not contribute to GPA totals.
- Previous cumulative data (optional): previous cumulative GPA and previous credits counted.
Only courses marked “included” contribute to GPA. Excluded courses can still appear in your list for record keeping.
How a single course contributes
Each included course contributes “grade points” (also called “quality points × credits”).
The idea is simple: higher grades and higher credits have more impact.
Example: a 4-credit course with QP = 3.7 contributes 4 × 3.7 = 14.8 grade points.
Term GPA
Term GPA is the total grade points divided by the total credits counted (included courses only).
If TotalCredits = 0 (everything excluded), GPA cannot be computed.
Cumulative GPA (optional)
If you enter your previous cumulative GPA and previous credits, the calculator converts that into
“previous grade points,” then adds your term totals.
This method is mathematically equivalent to recomputing GPA from scratch across all semesters, but it only needs two prior inputs.
Grade input options (what they mean)
- Letter grade (A, A-, B+…): mapped directly to quality points by your chosen scale.
- Percent grade (0–100): converted to a letter grade using a percent→letter mapping, then to quality points.
- Points earned / possible: converted to a percent
(earned / possible) × 100, then mapped to letter and quality points.
What the graphs show (before steps)
- Credits-weighted GPA donut: shows how your counted credits are distributed by letter grade.
- Course bars: shows grade points by course
(credits × quality points). Longer bars contribute more to your GPA.
These visualizations are computed from the same totals used in the GPA formulas, so you can immediately see which courses
are driving your GPA the most.
Tips and common pitfalls
- Check credits: GPA is credit-weighted. A 1-credit course affects GPA less than a 4-credit course.
- Exclude pass/fail: if a pass/fail course should not count toward GPA, set it to excluded.
- Use the right scale: 4.0 vs 4.3 (and mappings) can change results significantly.
- Cumulative requires both inputs: previous GPA without previous credits is not enough (and vice versa).
If your school uses a unique mapping, use the editable mapping option (when available) so the calculator matches your policy.
