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Cumulative GPA Calculator

See how this semester changes your overall GPA. Enter the GPA and credits already on your transcript, then this semester's GPA and credits.

  • Live results
  • U.S. grading scale
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So far
This semester

Don't know your semester GPA yet? Work it out class by class with the GPA calculator, then come back.

New cumulative GPA

Fill in all four boxes.

The cumulative GPA formula

New GPA = (GPA₁ × credits₁ + GPA₂ × credits₂) ÷ (credits₁ + credits₂)

GPA × credits gives quality points, the total grade points you've earned. Adding quality points and dividing by credits is the same math your registrar uses.

Worked example

Junior year, fall semester

Current: 3.20 GPA over 60 credits = 192 quality points.

This semester: 3.80 over 15 credits = 57 quality points.

New cumulative GPA: (192 + 57) ÷ 75 = 3.32, up 0.12.

Why your GPA gets harder to move

Each new semester is a smaller slice of your total credits. Here's what a 4.0 semester (15 credits) does to a 3.0 GPA:

Credits so farNew GPA after a 4.0 semesterIncrease
153.50+0.50
303.33+0.33
453.25+0.25
603.20+0.20
903.14+0.14

That's why freshman year matters so much, and why a GPA goal late in college often needs more than one semester. The raise GPA calculator shows exactly how many credits it takes.

Don't have your semester GPA yet? Calculate it from your classes with the GPA calculator, which can also add in your previous GPA in one step.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate cumulative GPA?

Multiply your current GPA by credits completed to get your quality points, do the same for the new semester, add the two, and divide by total credits. A 3.2 over 60 credits plus a 3.8 over 15 credits: (192 + 57) ÷ 75 = 3.32.

Why didn't my GPA go up much after a great semester?

Because a semester is a small share of all your credits. After 60 credits, a 15-credit semester is only 20% of your cumulative GPA. Early semesters move your GPA much more than later ones.

Can I just average my semester GPAs?

Only if every semester had the same number of credits. Otherwise, average by credits: a 12-credit semester should count less than an 18-credit one.

Do transfer credits count in my cumulative GPA?

Usually not. Most U.S. colleges accept transfer credits toward graduation but calculate your institutional GPA only from courses taken there. Check with your registrar.

Where do I find my credits completed?

On your unofficial transcript or degree audit in your student portal. Use GPA credit hours (also called 'GPA hours' or 'quality hours'), which exclude pass/fail and transfer credits.

What will my GPA be after this semester?

Enter your current GPA and credits, then the GPA you expect this semester and its credits. The result is your new cumulative GPA, so you can try different semester GPAs to estimate where you'll end up.

Is accumulated GPA the same as cumulative GPA?

Yes. Accumulated, cumulative and overall GPA all mean the GPA across every graded course you've taken so far, as opposed to a single semester or term.

Last reviewed by the GradeCalc team. See how we calculate.