Unweighted GPA Calculator
Calculate your unweighted GPA on the standard 4.0 scale. No bonuses for AP, IB, or Honors — every course counts equally by credit hours.
How the unweighted GPA calculator works
An unweighted GPA is the simplest form of the grade-point-average — a credit-weighted average of letter-grade values on the 4.0 scale, with no adjustment for course difficulty. Every course counts the same way: its grade point value multiplied by its credit hours, summed across every course, divided by total credits. There is no AP bonus, no Honors boost, no rigor adjustment. A B in AP Calculus and a B in regular English both earn 3.0 grade points, and both contribute to the GPA in proportion to their credit load.
The unweighted 4.0 scale is the common denominator of US academic reporting. It shows up on college applications alongside any weighted figure, and many selective universities recalculate submitted transcripts onto their own unweighted scale to compare applicants from high schools with different weighting policies.
The formula, step by step
For each course: multiply the grade point value by the credit hours. Sum those products across every course — that is your total quality points. Sum the credit hours — that is your total credits. Divide total quality points by total credits. The quotient is your unweighted GPA.
Worked example: four 3-credit classes with grades A, B+, A-, B.
- A (4.0) × 3 = 12.0
- B+ (3.3) × 3 = 9.9
- A- (3.7) × 3 = 11.1
- B (3.0) × 3 = 9.0
Total quality points = 42.0. Total credits = 12. Unweighted GPA = 42.0 ÷ 12 = 3.5. A simple arithmetic mean of the four grades happens to give the same answer here because every course had the same credit load, but that is coincidence — once credits vary, the credit-weighted formula diverges from the naive average.
The 4.0 scale, spelled out
On the standard unweighted scale: A+ and A both equal 4.0, A- equals 3.7, B+ equals 3.3, B equals 3.0, B- equals 2.7, C+ equals 2.3, C equals 2.0, C- equals 1.7, D+ equals 1.3, D equals 1.0, D- equals 0.7, and F equals 0.0. Some institutions extend A+ to 4.33; this calculator does not, following the more common convention. If your school uses the extended scale, your GPA will be slightly higher than the number shown here.
Weighted vs unweighted — why both matter
Weighted GPAs add +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB courses, pushing the ceiling to 5.0. Unweighted stays at 4.0. Colleges want both because they tell different stories: the unweighted number measures raw grade performance, while the weighted number signals that you attempted rigorous coursework. A 3.8 unweighted with three AP courses is stronger than a 4.0 unweighted with only standard classes — which is why admissions officers look at your course list next to your GPA.
Common mistakes
- Simple average instead of credit-weighted. Averaging letter grades without credit weighting gives the wrong answer unless every course has identical credits. A 1-credit A and a 4-credit C do not average to a B.
- Entering plus/minus as whole grades. A B+ is 3.3, not 3.0. Round-the-letter shortcuts cost you tenths of a point. Use the exact grade as reported on your transcript.
- Including Pass/Fail courses. Pass/Fail courses do not carry grade points and should be excluded from this calculator. If you want to explore the impact of choosing P/F vs. a letter grade, use the Pass/Fail GPA Impact tool.
- Mixing weighted and unweighted on the same form. This calculator is unweighted only. If your transcript already shows weighted grade points (4.5 or 5.0 entries), use the Weighted GPA calculator instead.
What this calculator is not
This is arithmetic, not academic advice. It will not tell you whether your GPA is competitive for a specific college, whether to take a course P/F, or whether your transcript meets graduation requirements. For institution-specific recalculations and program eligibility, consult your registrar.