Calculate your weighted GPA and unweighted GPA instantly online. Supports AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Regular courses on the 4.0 and 5.0 GPA scales. Enter your letter grades and credit hours for each course to get your exact weighted GPA, semester GPA, and cumulative GPA — with a full course-by-course breakdown and college admissions analysis. Free, no sign-up, 100% accurate.
| Course | Grade | Type | Credits | Unweighted Pts | Weighted Pts | Contribution |
|---|
| University Tier | Typical Weighted GPA | Unweighted GPA | 2025–26 Status |
|---|
The most complete free weighted GPA calculator — built for real college applications. Supports all course types, both GPA scales, and provides the full context your college counsellor would give you.
Calculates both your weighted GPA (with AP/IB/Honors boost) and unweighted GPA (standard 4.0 scale) at the same time — the two numbers colleges actually compare side by side.
Applies the correct grade point boost for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Regular course types — configurable per course.
Supports all three common GPA scales used by high schools. Switch between scales instantly — the calculator adjusts all grade point values and weighted boosts accordingly.
Shows exactly how each course contributes to your weighted and unweighted GPA — with the grade points, credit hours, weighted boost amount, and each course's contribution percentage.
Compares your GPA against 2025–26 admissions data for Ivy League, top-25, and state university tiers — showing exactly where your GPA positions you for college admissions.
Add as many courses as you need — works for a single semester or all four years of high school. Fully optimised for mobile with touch-friendly grade selectors.
Weighted GPA and unweighted GPA measure the same thing — academic performance — but weighted GPA gives bonus points for challenging courses. Here is everything you need to know.
Unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale for all courses regardless of difficulty. An A in AP Calculus and an A in Regular Gym are both worth 4.0 grade points. The unweighted GPA treats all classes as equal, making it the most straightforward measure of raw academic performance on a common scale.
Weighted GPA adds bonus grade points for taking academically challenging courses — typically Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Honors, and Dual Enrollment classes. On the most common weighted scale (5.0), an A in an AP course earns 5.0 grade points instead of 4.0; in an Honors course, an A earns 4.5 instead of 4.0. This means a student who takes harder classes can achieve a weighted GPA above 4.0 — even above 5.0 on some school systems that use a 6.0 weighted scale.
Most high schools calculate and report both weighted and unweighted GPA. Colleges use both numbers — often recalculating your GPA using their own internal system that considers only core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language) and excludes electives like PE or Study Hall.
| Letter Grade | % Range | Unweighted (4.0) | Honors (4.5) | AP / IB (5.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Schools use different maximum weighted GPA scales. Here are the most common:
Important: Many colleges "recalculate" your GPA using their own internal system when reviewing applications — typically on a 4.0 unweighted scale, counting only core academic courses. A weighted GPA of 4.6 might become 3.85 in a college's internal calculation. This is why most selective colleges look at both weighted and unweighted GPA and class rank together.
The weighted GPA formula is a credit-weighted average of your grade points — with additional points added for AP, IB, and Honors course types. Here is the exact calculation method.
Formula: Weighted GPA = Σ (Weighted Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Σ (Total Credit Hours)
Where "Weighted Grade Points" = Standard Grade Points + Course Type Bonus (AP/IB: +1.0; Honors: +0.5; Regular: +0.0) on the 5.0 scale.
| Course | Grade | Type | Credits | Weighted Pts | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Chemistry | A | AP | 1 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| AP English Lit | B+ | AP | 1 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Honors Precalculus | A− | Honors | 1 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| US History (Regular) | A | Regular | 1 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Spanish III (Honors) | B | Honors | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 |
| Physics (Regular) | B+ | Regular | 1 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| TOTAL | 5.5 cr | — | 22.55 | ||
Weighted GPA = 22.55 ÷ 5.5 = 4.10 | Unweighted GPA = 19.75 ÷ 5.5 = 3.59
Select your GPA scale — 5.0 (most common for high schools with AP/Honors), 4.0 (standard unweighted or some colleges), or 4.5 (used by some districts). Choose your education level (High School, College, or Middle School) — this affects available course types and how results are interpreted. Also select your grading system: standard (A+/A/A−/B+...), simple (A/B/C/D/F), or percentage input.
For each course, enter the course name (optional), your letter grade (or percentage), the number of credit hours (typically 1 per semester-long course in high school, or 3 in college), and the course type (AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enrollment, or Regular). Click "Add Another Course" to add as many courses as needed — you can calculate for a single semester, a full year, or all four years of high school.
Hit calculate to instantly receive your weighted GPA, unweighted GPA, semester GPA, total credit hours, and college admissions context — all with a course-by-course breakdown showing exactly how each class contributed to your GPA. A GPA meter shows visually where your GPA falls on the scale.
Use the college admissions context table to see how your GPA compares to the 2025–26 average for different university tiers. If planning ahead, use the personalised tips to understand which grade improvements or course type changes would have the biggest impact on your weighted GPA before your next semester ends. Remember: most selective colleges look at your course rigor (course type mix) alongside GPA — a 4.0 weighted GPA with all AP classes is more impressive than 4.0 weighted with mostly Regular classes.
Most selective colleges (especially the Common App schools and UC system) recalculate your GPA when reviewing your application. They typically use a 4.0 unweighted scale and count only core academic courses (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language) — excluding PE, electives, and sometimes arts. The University of California system uses a specific UC-calculated GPA formula. This means your school-reported weighted GPA may differ from the GPA colleges internally calculate. Always calculate both your weighted and unweighted GPA and be prepared to explain your course rigor in your application.
How colleges use weighted and unweighted GPA for admissions decisions, what GPAs are competitive at different college tiers, and how GPA interacts with class rigor and test scores in 2025–26.
| College Tier | Avg Weighted GPA | Avg Unweighted GPA | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy League / Elite | 4.5–4.9+ | 3.9–4.0 | Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Stanford |
| Highly Selective | 4.2–4.6 | 3.7–3.95 | Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Emory, WashU |
| Selective | 3.9–4.3 | 3.5–3.8 | UC Santa Barbara, Boston U, Tulane, Fordham |
| Moderately Selective | 3.5–4.0 | 3.2–3.6 | Arizona State, Indiana U, U of Oregon |
| Accessible / Open | Any | 2.0+ | Community colleges, many 4-year schools |
Most highly selective colleges (Ivy League, MIT, Stanford) place more weight on your unweighted GPA in context — meaning your raw academic performance relative to what your school offers. If your school offers 20 AP courses and you took 12, that's impressive. If your school offers 3 AP courses and you took all 3, that's equally impressive.
The key principle: rigor within context matters more than absolute GPA. A 3.7 unweighted GPA with 8 APs is often evaluated more favorably than a 3.95 unweighted with only Regular courses at the same school.
Practical takeaways: Never sacrifice an A in a Regular course to take an AP course where you'd earn a C — a C in AP hurts your unweighted GPA significantly. Aim for As and B+s in the most rigorous courses your school offers. The Common App requires you to report your school's GPA scale and your cumulative GPA — bring both your weighted and unweighted numbers to your college counselor meeting.
GPA scale inconsistency is a major issue in college admissions. One student's 4.4 weighted GPA on a 5.0 scale is not directly comparable to another's 4.4 on a 4.5 scale — or to a school that doesn't weight at all. Colleges receive a School Profile document from your high school counselor that explains your school's specific grading scale, weighting policy, course rigor, and average GPA — this context is essential for fair evaluation. Never compare your weighted GPA to another student's without knowing both schools' weighting policies. This is one reason why SAT/ACT scores (a common yardstick) still matter in 2025–26, even at many test-optional schools.
Most searched questions about weighted GPA, how to calculate it, what it means for college admissions, and how it compares to unweighted GPA in 2025–26.