How to Calculate Grade Point Average (GPA)
STEP 1. Identify the classes to include in your calculation.
For a semester GPA use all regularly graded courses in that semester and for the cumulative GPA use all courses.
STEP 2. Calculate grade points for each of the included classes.
Multiply the number of course credits for each course by the grade point values associated with the grade received in that course
The following grades are included in computing the GPA:
|
Grade |
Points Per Credit |
|
A (Excellent) |
4 |
|
AB (Intermediate grade) |
3.5 |
|
B (Good) |
3 |
|
BC (Intermediate grade) |
2.5 |
|
C (Fair) |
2 |
|
D (Poor) |
1 |
|
F (Failure, see section below) |
0 |
*Plus and minus signs are not used.
STEP 3. Calculate the GPA.
Add all of course points together and then divide that sum by the total number of credits
GPA= Total grade points earned /Total credits taken toward GPA
Example
|
Course |
Credit/Unit |
Grade |
Grade Points |
|
ENGLISH 100 |
3 |
A |
12 |
|
ECON 101 |
4 |
AB |
16 |
|
MATH 221 |
5 |
B |
15 |
|
Total |
12 |
|
43 |
|
GPA |
|
|
3.58 |
*GPA calculator from the Cross-College Advising Service: http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/calculator.html.
The following are items excluded from the GPA calculation:
- S or U (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) in courses taken on the Pass/Fail basis.
- Cr or N (Credit or No Credit) in courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis
- Def (Deferred), Ex (Excused), PE (Permanently Excused), formerly used only for required Physical Education. The Physical Education requirement was discontinued effective August 30, 1976.
- DR (Dropped), indicates the course was dropped.
- I (IN for Cr/N Courses) (Incomplete), a temporary grade used when work is not completed during a term.
- EI (Extended Incomplete), a temporary grade for an extended time limit to remove an Incomplete.
- PI (Permanent Incomplete), a permanent grade replacing an Incomplete incurred in a student's last semester in residence and not removed within five years.
- NR (No Report), indicates that a grade was not submitted by the instructor. Has no net effect on GPA. Effective Summer 1999.
- NW (No Work)..."should be used for students who enroll in a course and then never attend. 'No Work' in this context means that the instructor has no evidence that the student ever attended, in that no course work was ever submitted. Any student who does attend for part of the semester, and then stops participating should be given a grade of 'F' unless there are grounds for assignment of a grade of 'I'(Incomplete)." Fac. Doc. 1028; effective 9/94.
- P (Progress), a temporary grade used for courses extending beyond one term. The final grade determines the grade for each term and replaces P grades for the course.
- Q (Question on Credits), a temporary grade used during grade reporting to indicate a credit problem. A Q grade may be represented on a grade report as "?."
- R (Registered), not used after the Summer 1974.
- W (Withdrew), indicates the student withdrew from the University while enrolled in the course.
- Audited courses, denoted as such by 'AU