What is a good GPA?+
A 3.0 keeps most doors open, a 3.5 makes you competitive at the majority of universities, and the most selective schools tend to see applicants near 3.9. Context matters as much as the number though, since a 3.6 earned across demanding courses often reads better than a 4.0 built from the easiest options available.
Is a 4.0 GPA possible with an A minus?+
Not on the standard scale, because an A minus is worth 3.7 rather than 4.0 and drags the average below four the moment it appears. At schools that count an A plus as 4.3, a few of those can offset an A minus and bring you back to a 4.0.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?+
Both, and many admissions offices recalculate every applicant onto their own internal scale so that students from different schools can be compared fairly. They usually strip out electives, keep the core academic subjects, and apply their own weighting rules.
Does a failed class stay on my GPA forever?+
It depends on your school's retake policy. Many replace the original grade when you repeat the course, so the F stops counting toward the average even though it stays visible on the transcript. Others average both attempts. Your registrar's office can tell you which rule applies.
Why does my calculated GPA differ from my transcript?+
Usually one of four things. Transfer credits often bring credit hours without grade points, repeated courses may have replaced an earlier grade, pass or fail classes carry no points, or a withdrawal is being counted when it should not be. Check those before assuming the maths is wrong.
How much can one semester change my cumulative GPA?+
Early on, a great deal, because there are few credits behind you to absorb it. Once you are past sixty credits a single semester rarely moves the total by more than a couple of tenths in either direction.
Is my data saved anywhere?+
Only in your own browser. Every calculator on this site runs in JavaScript on your device, and what you type is written to local storage so a refresh does not lose it. Nothing is sent to a server, and the clear button removes it.
What GPA do I need to keep financial aid?+
Most institutions require a 2.0 for satisfactory academic progress, and dropping below it can put aid at risk after a warning period. Individual scholarships often set the bar higher, sometimes at 3.0 or 3.5, so read the terms of your specific award rather than relying on the general rule.