Education
How to Calculate GPA: 4.0 Scale & Weighted Credit Hours
Just ask and get Editorial Team(Academic & Educational Standards)
Updated 2026-09-19
5 min read
Key Takeaway:Learn how universities compute semester and cumulative GPAs by multiplying course letter grades by credit hours.
The Standard 4.0 Scale
Most colleges and universities translate letter grades into numerical grade points:
- **A**: 4.0
- **A-**: 3.7
- **B+**: 3.3
- **B**: 3.0
- **B-**: 2.7
- **C+**: 2.3
- **C**: 2.0
- **D**: 1.0
- **F**: 0.0
The Quality Points Formula
To calculate weighted GPA:
1. Multiply the grade points earned in each course by the course credit hours to obtain "Quality Points."
2. Sum all Quality Points across all courses.
3. Divide total Quality Points by total credit hours completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weighted high school GPA?
High schools often award extra grade points for Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses (e.g. an A equals 5.0 points instead of 4.0).