See your new cumulative GPA.
Start with your prior record, add each new semester, and watch your credit-weighted cumulative GPA update live, with the quality points, total credits and the exact change behind every number.
Your prior record
What this means
Cumulative GPA trend
Your numbers at a glance
Semester by semester
Quality points are GPA times credits. The running cumulative is every completed credit blended into one weighted average.
| Period | GPA | Credits | Quality points | Running cumulative |
|---|
Cumulative GPA, explained
How Cumulative GPA Is Computed
Cumulative GPA combines all your completed credit hours into a single weighted average. The formula multiplies each semester's GPA by its credit hours, sums the products, and divides by total credits. This calculator does it for two periods (prior + new) but the same math extends to any number of semesters.
Why Your GPA Moves Less Over Time
Each new semester adds proportionally less to your cumulative GPA because you keep accumulating credit hours. After 60 completed credits, a single 15-credit semester accounts for only 20% of the cumulative weight. Strong early-college semesters set a baseline that is hard to move later, for better or worse.
Recovering From a Bad Semester
To recover, calculate how many credits you would need at a higher GPA to reach your target. Use this calculator iteratively: enter your current cumulative, then a hypothetical strong semester, and see the new cumulative. Repeat until you find a realistic path. Some students choose to retake low-grade courses if their school's grade-replacement policy allows.
Cumulative GPA for Graduate School
Most graduate programs want a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Strong programs expect 3.5+. Some programs care more about your last 60 credits (the 'major GPA' or 'upper-division GPA') than your first-year grades. Check each program's specific requirements before assuming the cumulative number alone matters.
Common questions
Why didn't my GPA move much?
Once you have 60+ credits of established GPA, a single 15-credit semester only contributes about 20% of the cumulative weight. Big changes require multiple strong semesters or a much smaller credit base.
Should I include withdrawn courses?
No, W grades typically do not count toward GPA at most schools. Only include courses where you received a letter grade that affects GPA.
What about repeated courses?
Policies vary. Some schools replace the old grade entirely (grade replacement); others average both. Check your school policy and use whichever rule applies when entering your prior GPA.
Can this calculate cumulative GPA across schools?
Yes, enter your transfer GPA as 'Prior GPA' with the transferred credits, then add new-school semesters. Note that some schools do not include transfer credits in their own GPA calculation.
How do I find my current cumulative GPA?
Check your unofficial transcript through your school's student portal. The most recent term typically shows both semester GPA and cumulative GPA.
Estimates for planning only. Schools differ on how they count withdrawals, repeats, transfer credits and plus/minus grades. Confirm your official cumulative GPA on your student portal before making decisions.