Cal GPA Calculator
Enter your courses, units, and grades to calculate your term GPA. You can also estimate your new cumulative GPA by adding your current GPA and completed units.
Optional: Project Cumulative GPA
Note: P/NP, W, and I are excluded from GPA calculations in this tool.
How to Use This Cal GPA Calculator
This calculator is designed for fast semester planning. Add each class, enter how many units it is worth, and choose your expected or final grade. Click Calculate GPA to get your term GPA instantly.
If you also enter your current cumulative GPA and completed units, the calculator will estimate your updated cumulative GPA after this term. That helps you understand how much one semester can move your overall academic standing.
Quick Steps
- Add one row per course.
- Input units exactly as listed in your schedule.
- Select a letter grade for each graded class.
- Use the optional cumulative fields for long-term planning.
Grade Points Used in the Calculation
This tool uses a standard 4.0-style letter-grade scale with plus/minus values. For UC-style planning, A+ is treated as 4.0, the same as A.
- A+, A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7
- F = 0.0
Pass/No Pass and administrative grades like W or I are excluded from GPA math in this calculator.
Term GPA vs. Cumulative GPA
Term GPA
Term GPA uses only the classes from the current semester. It is great for checking immediate performance and tracking grade goals during the term.
Cumulative GPA
Cumulative GPA blends your previous GPA units with your new term results. This gives a broader view of your entire academic history and is often what scholarships, graduate programs, and employers review first.
Example Planning Scenario
Suppose you have four classes worth 16 total units, and you project grades around a B+ average. Your term GPA might land around 3.3. If your prior cumulative GPA is 3.15 over 60 units, this strong term can raise your cumulative GPA noticeably. Using this tool before finals helps you see how different grade outcomes affect your long-term target.
Tips to Improve Your GPA at Cal
- Track weighted impact: Focus first on higher-unit courses since they move GPA more.
- Use midpoint check-ins: Recalculate GPA after each major exam or project.
- Build realistic grade scenarios: Create best-case, expected, and conservative plans.
- Meet with advisors early: Confirm grading policies and repeats before enrollment deadlines.
- Protect consistency: A steady B+/A- pattern often beats one great class and one poor class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator include transfer units?
Only include units that are part of your GPA-bearing record for the estimate. If transfer work does not affect your institutional GPA, leave it out.
Do P/NP courses affect GPA here?
No. In this calculator, P/NP, W, and I are excluded from GPA computations.
Can I use this for future-term planning?
Yes. Many students use this as a forecasting tool before registration, midterm season, and finals week.