Cumulative GPA Calculator
Enter your prior cumulative GPA and the credits behind it, then add each new term's GPA and credits. The calculator credit-weights them into your new cumulative GPA. Leave a term blank (0 credits) to skip it.
How to calculate cumulative gpa
A cumulative GPA is a credit-weighted average across every term, not a plain average of term GPAs. Multiply each term's GPA by the credits earned that term to get its quality points, then add the quality points already behind your prior cumulative GPA (its GPA times its credits). Divide the grand total of quality points by the grand total of credits. Because it is credit-weighted, a heavy term moves your cumulative GPA more than a light one, and a strong term has less effect once you have many credits on record.
Cumulative GPA = sum(GPA x credits) / sum(credits)
Worked example
Your prior cumulative GPA is 3.2 across 30 credits, and this term you earned a 3.8 across 15 credits.
- Prior quality points: 3.2 x 30 = 96
- This term's quality points: 3.8 x 15 = 57
- Total quality points: 96 + 57 = 153
- Total credits: 30 + 15 = 45
- Cumulative GPA: 153 / 45 = 3.4
Result: Your new cumulative GPA is 3.4 across 45 credits.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate cumulative GPA?
Multiply each term's GPA by its credits to get quality points, add them all up, and divide by the total credits. For a 3.2 over 30 credits plus a 3.8 over 15 credits, that is (3.2 x 30 + 3.8 x 15) / 45 = 153 / 45 = 3.4.
What is the difference between term GPA and cumulative GPA?
Term (or semester) GPA covers a single term's classes. Cumulative GPA averages every term you have completed, weighted by credits. One strong term raises your term GPA fully, but only nudges your cumulative GPA in proportion to how many credits it adds to your total record.
Can I just average my term GPAs together?
Only if every term had the same number of credits. Otherwise a simple average is wrong, because it ignores that some terms carry more weight. A 4.0 over 3 credits and a 3.0 over 15 credits average to a credit-weighted 3.17, not the 3.5 a plain average would give.
How do I find the credits behind my prior GPA?
Use the total credits shown on your transcript or student portal, which is the sum of credit hours for every graded class you have completed. If you are combining several terms from scratch, leave the prior fields at zero and enter each term in its own row instead.
Does a failed or retaken class affect cumulative GPA?
Yes. A failing grade still adds its credits with zero (or low) quality points, which pulls the average down. Many schools let a retake replace the original in the GPA, but policies vary, so check whether your school averages both attempts or only counts the newer grade.