How to calculate an unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA is the credit-weighted average of your grade points on the standard 4.0 scale, with no extra points for course difficulty. Convert each letter to points, multiply by credits, add up, and divide by total credits.
| Letter | With plus/minus | Whole letters only |
|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| C− | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| D+ / D / D− | 1.3 / 1.0 / 0.7 | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 |
The plus/minus values are the ones College Board and university registrars publish.[1][2] If your school records only whole letters, switch “Plus/minus grades” to “Ignore them” in the calculator.
Worked example (default courses)
A (4.0) + B+ (3.3) + A− (3.7) + B (3.0) + A (4.0), each 1 credit, plus A− (3.7) for a 0.5-credit semester course: 18.0 + 1.85 = 19.85 quality points over 5.5 credits = 3.61.
How to convert a weighted GPA to unweighted
You cannot convert a weighted GPA to unweighted with a single formula, because the answer depends on how many weighted courses went into it. The reliable method is to recompute from your letter grades: list each course and grade from your transcript and enter them above. The level column is not shown here on purpose, so no bonus can slip in.
If you only know the weighted GPA and how many weighted courses you took, you can estimate: subtract the bonus points and divide by the courses again. A 4.2 weighted GPA over 12 courses, 4 of them AP at +1.0, is (4.2 × 12 − 4) ÷ 12 = 3.87 unweighted. That works only when every course has the same credits.
Why the unweighted GPA matters
An unweighted GPA is easier to compare between schools, because a 3.7 means roughly the same mix of A’s and B’s anywhere. Many colleges look at both numbers, and some recompute their own version. The University of California, for example, starts from an unweighted 10th–11th grade GPA before adding a limited number of honors points.[3]
Percent gradesIf your school uses percents, convert each course to a letter first with the letter grade calculator, then enter the letters here.
GPA calculator with no credits
When all your courses carry the same credit, leave every credit at 1 and the unweighted GPA is just the average of your grade points: four A’s and two B’s average (16 + 6) ÷ 6 = 3.67. Change the credits only for courses that count more or less, such as a 0.5-credit semester elective.
Related tools: the weighted GPA calculator adds honors and AP points, the high school GPA calculator shows both versions at once, and the cumulative GPA calculator adds a new term to your current GPA.
Frequently asked questions
What is an unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA is a grade point average on the 4.0 scale where an A is 4.0 in every course, regardless of whether it is regular, honors or AP.
How do I calculate my unweighted GPA?
Turn each letter grade into points (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0), multiply by credits, add them up and divide by total credits.
Is a 3.6 unweighted GPA good?
A 3.6 means mostly A’s with some B’s. Whether it is competitive depends on the colleges and programs you are aiming for.
Can an unweighted GPA be higher than 4.0?
Not on the standard scale. A few colleges count an A+ as 4.3 (Stanford uses a 4.3 scale), which can push a college GPA slightly above 4.0.