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Cumulative GPA Calculator

Cumulative GPA combines all grade points and credit hours across multiple semesters into a single weighted average. The formula is straightforward: multiply your previous GPA by your previous total credits, add the grade points from new courses, and divide by the new total credits. Enter your existing GPA, total credits completed, and your current semester courses to compute the updated cumulative GPA on the standard 4.0 scale.

Quick Answer

A student with a 3.20 GPA over 60 credits who earns a 3.75 GPA on 15 new credits will have an estimated cumulative GPA of 3.31.

Previous Academic Record

New Semester Courses

Common Examples

Input Result
Previous: 3.50 GPA, 30 credits. New: A, B+, A- (3 credits each) Estimated cumulative GPA: 3.58
Previous: 3.00 GPA, 60 credits. New: A, A, B, B (3 credits each) Estimated cumulative GPA: 3.10
Previous: 2.80 GPA, 45 credits. New: A, A, A (4 credits each) Estimated cumulative GPA: 3.11
Previous: 3.50 GPA, 90 credits. New: B, B+, C+ (3 credits each) Estimated cumulative GPA: 3.42

How It Works

The Formula

Cumulative GPA = Total Grade Points / Total Credit Hours

Where:

  • Total Grade Points = (Previous GPA x Previous Credits) + Sum of (New Course Grade Point x New Course Credits)
  • Total Credit Hours = Previous Credits + Sum of New Course Credits

Each letter grade corresponds to a numeric value on the standard 4.0 scale:

Grade Points Grade Points
A 4.0 C 2.0
A- 3.7 C- 1.7
B+ 3.3 D+ 1.3
B 3.0 D 1.0
B- 2.7 D- 0.7
C+ 2.3 F 0.0

Worked Example

A student has a cumulative GPA of 3.20 over 60 completed credits. In the new semester, the student takes three 3-credit courses: English (A = 4.0), Statistics (B+ = 3.3), and Philosophy (A- = 3.7).

Previous grade points = 3.20 x 60 = 192.0.

New grade points = (4.0 x 3) + (3.3 x 3) + (3.7 x 3) = 12.0 + 9.9 + 11.1 = 33.0.

New semester GPA = 33.0 / 9 = 3.667.

Total grade points = 192.0 + 33.0 = 225.0. Total credits = 60 + 9 = 69.

Estimated cumulative GPA = 225.0 / 69 = 3.26.

The cumulative GPA rose from 3.20 to an estimated 3.26 because the new semester GPA (3.67) was higher than the existing cumulative GPA.

How Cumulative GPA Changes

Cumulative GPA is a weighted average, so the more credits already completed, the less impact a single semester has. A student with 120 credits needs a much higher (or lower) semester GPA to move the cumulative average than a student with 30 credits. This is why early semesters have a larger proportional effect on cumulative GPA.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is cumulative GPA different from semester GPA?
Semester GPA covers only the courses taken in a single term. Cumulative GPA is the weighted average of all courses across all semesters. Cumulative GPA represents overall academic performance, while semester GPA reflects only the most recent term.
Can one bad semester ruin my cumulative GPA?
The impact depends on how many credits you have already completed. If you have many credits (e.g., 90+), one poor semester will have a relatively small effect. If you have fewer credits (e.g., 15), one bad semester will have a larger impact because there are fewer grade points to offset the result.
What GPA do I need this semester to raise my cumulative GPA?
To raise your cumulative GPA, your new semester GPA must be higher than your current cumulative GPA. To calculate the exact target, rearrange the cumulative formula: Required Semester GPA = (Target GPA x Total Credits - Previous Grade Points) / New Credits.
Does this calculator account for pass/fail courses?
Pass/fail courses typically do not factor into GPA calculations because they have no grade point value. This calculator only includes courses with a letter grade and credit hours greater than zero.
Why does my GPA barely change even with a great semester?
Cumulative GPA is a weighted average. The more credits already completed, the more 'weight' the existing GPA carries. For instance, 60 prior credits at 3.0 contribute 180 grade points. Even earning a 4.0 on 12 new credits only adds 48 points, bringing the total to 228/72 = 3.17. The prior record dilutes the impact of new courses.

Learn More

GPA and Grades: Everything Students Need to Know

How GPA is calculated on the 4.0 scale, how to compute semester and cumulative GPA, and strategies for raising your GPA. Step-by-step examples included.

How to Calculate Your GPA

The GPA formula, step by step. Calculate your semester GPA and cumulative GPA with worked examples using the standard 4.0 scale.