What is GPA?
GPA means grade point average: the sum of quality points divided by the credits that count toward that average.
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Explore GPA basics, student records, course grades and application rules—all organized by the question you’re trying to answer.
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GPA basics & scales
Understand the number, the credits behind it, and the scale it belongs to.
What are quality points?
Quality points are a course’s grade-point value multiplied by its GPA credits; a 4-point grade in a 3-credit course produces 12 quality points.
Cumulative vs. semester GPA
Semester GPA covers one term, while cumulative GPA combines the eligible coursework across the academic record defined by your institution.
GPA scales: what the numbers mean
A GPA scale assigns points to grades. Before comparing two GPAs, check the maximum, plus/minus values, weighting, and which courses count.
Weighted vs. unweighted GPA
Weighted GPA adds policy-defined points for eligible coursework, while unweighted GPA uses the base grade values without those bonuses.
What is the highest GPA you can get?
The highest possible GPA depends on the grade scale, eligible courses, weighting bonuses, and caps. A weighted number above 4.0 is not automatically an error.
GPA to percentage: why there is no single conversion
An aggregate GPA cannot be uniquely converted back to a percentage. You need the original course grades and the grading rules for the institution or application.