How to Calculate GPA with Credit Hours (Step-by-Step Guide)

YELLOW-NEX October 27, 2026

GPA is a credit-weighted average of your grade points. A course with more credit hours counts for more, so a 4-credit A moves your GPA more than a 1-credit A. The formula is short:

GPA = sum of (grade points × credits) ÷ sum of credits

Step 1: Turn each grade into grade points

Most schools convert a percentage into a letter, and a letter into grade points. This is the plus/minus scale used in the StudyHub calculator:

Score	Letter	Grade points
93–100	A	4.0
90–92	A−	3.7
87–89	B+	3.3
83–86	B	3.0
80–82	B−	2.7
77–79	C+	2.3
73–76	C	2.0
70–72	C−	1.7
67–69	D+	1.3
63–66	D	1.0
60–62	D−	0.7
Below 60	F	0.0

Schools differ. Some use straight letters (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0) with cutoffs at 90, 80, 70 and 60. Use the scale your school publishes.

Step 2 to 4: Multiply, add and divide

Multiply each course’s grade points by its credits, add the results, then divide by the total credits.

Worked example

Course	Score	Points	Credits	Points × credits
Calculus I	88% (B+)	3.3	4	13.2
English	94% (A)	4.0	3	12.0
Chemistry	81% (B−)	2.7	4	10.8
History	76% (C)	2.0	3	6.0

Total grade points: 13.2 + 12.0 + 10.8 + 6.0 = 42.0. Total credits: 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 14. GPA = 42.0 ÷ 14 = 3.00.

Why credits matter

With a 3.00 GPA over 14 credits, a 1-credit A gives (42 + 4) ÷ 15 = 3.07. A 4-credit A gives (42 + 16) ÷ 18 = 3.22. Same grade, bigger effect, because it carries more credits.

Cumulative GPA across semesters

Do not average two semester GPAs directly. Weight them by credits. If you earned 3.0 over 14 credits in the fall and 3.5 over 16 credits in the spring, your cumulative GPA is (3.0 × 14 + 3.5 × 16) ÷ 30 = 3.27, not 3.25.

Common mistakes

Ignoring credits. A simple average of letter grades gives the wrong answer.
Using percentages as grade points. Convert to points first.
Rounding too early. Round only the final GPA.
Counting pass/fail or withdrawn courses. Check your school’s policy, since many do not include them.

Calculate your GPA with StudyHub

Enter each course’s score and credit hours in the GPA tab. It shows your GPA, weighted GPA and average, and it runs in your browser with no sign-up. Next, learn what grade you need on your final exam, or read CGPA vs GPA vs Percentage.