How GPA Is Actually Calculated (It's Not What You Think)

A 3.5 GPA does not mean you averaged 87.5% across your classes. I assumed this for years. The actual math is more interesting and more punishing than a simple average. GPA is a weighted average. The weight is credit hours. A grade in a 4-credit course counts four times as much as a grade in a 1-credit course. This is the single fact that changes everything about how you think about your transcript. The formula nobody teaches you Here is the actual calculation: GPA = (sum of all quality points) / (sum of all credit hours attempted) Quality points for a single course = grade points x credit hours. Grade points on the standard 4.0 scale: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0. Some schools add plus/minus increments (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, etc.), but the formula stays the same. Say you take four courses in a semester: Organic Chemistry, 4 credits, grade: C (2.0) English Composition, 3 credits, grade: A (4.0) Art History, 3 credits, grade: A (4.0) PE Volleyball, 1 credit, grade: A (4.0) Q