Term Planning Tool
Semester GPA Calculator
Measure one academic term with a credit-weighted GPA calculation, then use the result to plan your cumulative GPA.
Enter This Semester’s Courses
Include only courses from the same academic term. Add the exact credits for each course.
Your GPA
GPA Scale
Your entries stay in this browser. The result is an estimate; your school’s official grading and repeat-course policies take precedence.
Calculation Guide
Calculate one semester before it changes your cumulative GPA
Semester GPA measures one academic term. It is useful for checking academic-standing requirements, Dean’s List targets, scholarship renewals, and the effect a current schedule may have on your cumulative record.
Enter only courses from the term being measured. If your school weights particular courses, enable weighting; most colleges instead use the standard credit-weighted 4.0 calculation.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Use one term only
Enter every GPA-bearing course from the same semester or quarter and exclude prior coursework.
- 2
Use attempted credit hours
A higher-credit course carries more influence, so copy the values from your schedule or transcript.
- 3
Model final-grade scenarios
Change projected grades to see the term GPA required for a goal, then combine it with prior credits in the cumulative calculator.
GPA formula
Semester GPA = semester quality points ÷ semester GPA credits
Quality points equal each course’s grade points multiplied by its credit hours. Only the selected term belongs in this calculation.
Semester GPA example
A student completes 14 credits during one semester:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | A− (3.7) | 4 | 14.8 |
| Psychology | B+ (3.3) | 3 | 9.9 |
| Literature | A (4.0) | 3 | 12.0 |
| Physics Lab | B (3.0) | 4 | 12.0 |
The semester produces 48.7 quality points across 14 credits: 48.7 ÷ 14 = 3.48 semester GPA.
Common 4.0 letter-grade conversion
| Letter grade | Grade points | Letter grade | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A− | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C− | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B− | 2.7 | D / D− | 1.0 / 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 | — | — |
Semester GPA versus cumulative GPA
- Semester GPA isolates the current term; cumulative GPA combines all included terms.
- A strong semester can raise cumulative GPA, but the size of the change depends on prior completed credits.
- Quarter and trimester calculations use the same formula when every course and credit belongs to the same period.
Frequently asked questions
Is semester GPA the same as term GPA?
Usually yes. Both describe the GPA for one defined academic period rather than the entire academic record.
Can I use estimated grades?
Yes. Estimated grades make the calculator a planning tool, but the result remains a projection until final grades are posted.
How do I add semester GPA to cumulative GPA?
Convert both periods to quality points using GPA × credits, add the quality points and credits, then divide. The cumulative calculator performs this directly.
Does a zero-credit course affect semester GPA?
Not in a credit-weighted calculation because it contributes no GPA credits. Institution-specific noncredit or remedial rules can differ.