Cumulative GPA Calculator
Add every year of high school or college in one place and see your weighted and unweighted GPA side by side, so Honors and AP classes get the credit they deserve.
How should Honors and AP courses count?
Weighted GPA adds +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB on top of the standard 4.0 grade point, capped at 5.0. Unweighted GPA ignores course level.
- Total credits
- 0
- Courses
- 0
- Honors / AP courses
- 0
Your GPA, year by year
| Year | Credits | Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA | Cumulative (unweighted) |
|---|
Formula: GPA = Σ (Grade Point [+ level bonus if weighted] × Credits) ÷ Σ Credits
How do you calculate cumulative GPA? Multiply every course's grade points by its credits, add up all of those numbers across every term, then divide by your total credits. Don't average your yearly GPAs, because years with more credits should count more. For weighted GPA, add the course bonus (+0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB) to each grade point first.
📝 How to use this calculator
- Pick a view. "Show both" gives weighted and unweighted GPA at the same time.
- Fill in each year. For every course, choose the level (Regular, Honors or AP/IB), the grade and the credits.
- Add or remove years and courses to match your transcript.
- Press Calculate. The table shows each year's GPA and your running cumulative GPA after each year.
Only mark a course Honors or AP/IB if your transcript labels it that way, since your school's official label is what counts.
📐 Weighted vs unweighted GPA, with an example
Unweighted GPA treats every A the same, so an A in Regular Algebra and an A in AP Biology are both 4.0. Weighted GPA rewards harder courses with a bonus, which is why a student in mostly AP classes can post a weighted GPA above 4.0.
Worked example. AP Biology (A, 4 credits), Honors English (B+, 3 credits) and Regular Algebra (A-, 3 credits). Unweighted: (4.0×4 + 3.3×3 + 3.7×3) ÷ 10 = 37.0 ÷ 10 = 3.70. Weighted: (5.0×4 + 3.8×3 + 3.7×3) ÷ 10 = 42.5 ÷ 10 = 4.25. Same transcript, a 0.55 gap.
➕ How to update your GPA with a new term
If you already know your cumulative GPA and total credits, you can add a new term without re-entering old courses:
Example. You have a 3.40 GPA after 24 credits and earn a 3.80 over 6 new credits. (3.40×24 + 3.80×6) ÷ 30 = (81.6 + 22.8) ÷ 30 = 3.48. A great term lifted the average by 0.08, not 0.40.
Why your GPA gets harder to move over time
Every credit you've already earned adds weight to your average. Say you have a 3.0 after 90 credits and want a 3.2 by 120 credits. You'd need a 3.8 average over your next 30 credits, since (3.2×120 − 3.0×90) ÷ 30 = 3.8. That's why a strong first year matters so much.
📊 Which GPA gets used where
| Situation | Usually uses |
|---|---|
| Class rank and valedictorian | Weighted GPA, because it rewards course rigor |
| College admissions | Often a GPA recalculated by the college, usually from core academic classes |
| Scholarships | Varies. Some say unweighted, some weighted, so read the wording |
| Honor roll | Commonly unweighted, but check your school |
The two numbers can differ by half a point or more, so always check which one a form is asking for before you submit.
🧭 Good to know
- Schools use different scales. Some give +0.5 or +1.0, some use other amounts, some cap how many weighted courses count, and some don't weight at all. Your school's policy always wins.
- 4.3 scales exist. A few schools give an A+ 4.3 points. This calculator counts an A as 4.0.
- Pass/fail and withdrawn courses usually don't count in GPA. Leave them out.
- College students: most colleges don't weight courses, so use the unweighted number or try the College GPA Calculator.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What's a good cumulative GPA?
Unweighted, 3.5 and above is generally strong, 3.0–3.49 is solid and below 2.5 is worth addressing. Weighted GPAs run higher for the same performance, so a 4.0 weighted is not the same as a 4.0 unweighted.
Can my weighted GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, that's the point of weighting. A student with mostly A's in AP and Honors classes can pass 4.0 and approach 5.0, while their unweighted GPA stays capped at 4.0.
Do I average my yearly GPAs to get my cumulative GPA?
No. Add up all grade points × credits across every term and divide by total credits. A plain average of yearly GPAs ignores the fact that years can have different numbers of credits.
Does every school use the same weighting?
No. +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB is the most common setup, but schools differ. Check your own policy.
Should I report weighted or unweighted GPA on applications?
Report what the form asks for. If it only says "GPA", check the instructions or your transcript. Many colleges recalculate it anyway.
How can I raise my cumulative GPA?
Earn higher grades in courses with more credits, retake courses if your school replaces the old grade, and plan ahead. Use the update formula above to see what average you need over your remaining credits.
Is cumulative GPA the same as CGPA?
Mostly yes. CGPA is the term used in many countries, often on a 10-point scale. This tool uses the US 4.0 and 5.0 scales. For 10-point systems use the CGPA Calculator.
How is this different from a College GPA Calculator?
This one adds Honors/AP weighting and a year-by-year view for high school. The College GPA Calculator uses semester credit hours without course-level bonuses.
Last updated: October 2026. Your school's registrar has the final say on your official GPA.