How the UC GPA is calculated
The University of California calculates its own GPA for admission from the A–G courses you complete in 10th and 11th grade, including summer terms after 9th and 11th grade.[1] Every semester grade counts on its own: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Pluses and minuses are ignored, so an A− and an A+ both count as 4.
- Unweighted GPA: total grade points ÷ number of semester grades.
- Weighted, capped GPA: add one extra point for each semester of a UC-approved honors course (AP, IB and designated honors) completed with a C or better, up to 8 semesters in total and no more than 4 from 10th grade.[1][2]
- Fully weighted GPA: the same, with every honors point counted and no cap.
Worked example (the calculator’s defaults)
22 semester grades: 12 A’s (48 points), 8 B’s (24) and 2 C’s (4) = 76 points. Unweighted GPA: 76 ÷ 22 = 3.45.
Honors: 2 semesters in 10th grade and 6 in 11th = 8 points, exactly at the cap. Capped GPA: (76 + 8) ÷ 22 = 3.82. Fully weighted is the same here, because no honors point was cut.
UC capped GPA: how the honors cap works
The cap stops students with many honors courses from pulling far ahead on GPA alone. Only eight semesters of honors points count toward the capped GPA, and only four of those may come from 10th grade. Extra honors semesters still appear in your fully weighted GPA.
| Honors semesters (10th + 11th) | Capped points | Fully weighted points |
|---|---|---|
| 2 + 4 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 + 4 | 8 | 8 |
| 6 + 2 | 6 (only 4 from 10th) | 8 |
| 4 + 8 | 8 | 12 |
| 6 + 8 | 8 | 14 |
Honors points need a grade of C or better. A D in an AP course earns 1 point, with no honors bonus. The calculator applies all three rules: the 8-point cap, the 4-point 10th grade limit, and no bonus on D or F grades.
UC weighted GPA vs. your high school GPA
Your school GPA may include 9th and 12th grade, non-A–G courses such as PE, plus/minus grades and its own weighting. The UC recalculation strips all of that out, so the two numbers rarely match. The UC lists which of your high school’s courses count as A–G and which carry honors credit;[4] if a course is not on that list it does not enter the UC GPA, even if your school weights it.
Repeated D and F gradesIf you repeat an A–G course in which you earned a D or F, the passing grade replaces the original in the UC GPA, as long as the repeat is completed by the summer after 11th grade. Grades are not averaged, and a non-honors course cannot replace an honors, AP or IB grade.[2] Count only the repeat in the calculator.
Minimum UC GPA and which GPA campuses use
The minimum is a 3.0 weighted, capped GPA for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents.[1][2] The capped GPA is the one used for that minimum; campuses may also look at the fully weighted or the unweighted GPA when they select students.[2][3]
| GPA | Honors points | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Unweighted | none | campus selection (optional) |
| Weighted, capped | up to 8 (≤ 4 from 10th grade) | the 3.0 / 3.4 minimum |
| Fully weighted | all of them | campus selection (optional) |
For nonresidents, honors points count only for AP and IB courses with grades of A, B or C.[1] The UC also tells applicants not to round their GPA up or down; it calculates the official figure from the application.[1]
How to count your semester grades
- Year-long courses produce two semester grades. An English 10 with an A in fall and a B in spring is one A and one B.
- A UC-transferable college course taken in high school counts as one grade and earns one honors point.[1]
For your school’s own GPA with plus/minus grades and its own weighting, use the high school GPA calculator. The weighted GPA calculator compares honors and AP bonus systems, the unweighted GPA calculator gives the plain 4.0 version, and the UF GPA calculator shows how the University of Florida recalculates instead.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA does the UC use?
A GPA from 10th and 11th grade A–G courses, with one extra point for each UC-approved honors semester graded C or better, capped at 8 semesters (no more than 4 from 10th grade).
Does the UC count plus and minus grades?
No. An A−, A and A+ all count as 4 points; a B+ and B− both count as 3.
What is the difference between capped and fully weighted UC GPA?
The capped GPA counts at most 8 semesters of honors points. The fully weighted GPA counts all of them.
Does 9th grade count in the UC GPA?
No. Only courses from the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade are used in the GPA calculation.