Question 1

How do I calculate my major GPA?

Accepted Answer

Calculating a major GPA uses the exact same mathematical formula as your cumulative GPA (Total Quality Points divided by Total Attempted Credit Hours), but you must strictly filter the inputs. You only include the credit hours and grade points for courses that are officially listed as requirements or approved electives for your specific degree program. General education requirements, minor courses, and free electives are entirely excluded from the calculation, providing a focused metric of your performance exclusively within your chosen field of study.

Question 2

Does a "W" (Withdrawal) affect my GPA?

Accepted Answer

A standard "W" (Withdrawal) does not affect your GPA in any mathematical way. It appears on your official transcript to indicate that you attempted the course but exited before completion, but it generates zero Quality Points and adds zero Attempted Credit Hours to the GPA denominator. However, if you withdraw after the institution's official drop deadline, you will receive a "WF" (Withdrawal Failing), which is calculated exactly like an "F" (0.0 points) and will severely damage your cumulative GPA.

Question 3

How much does one bad grade drop my cumulative GPA?

Accepted Answer

The impact of a single bad grade is entirely dependent on your total accumulated credit hours. If you are a first-semester freshman taking 15 credits and you receive one "F" (4 credits) alongside three "A"s (11 credits), your GPA will plummet to a 2.93. However, if you are a senior with 100 accumulated credits and a 3.80 GPA, that exact same 4-credit "F" will only drop your cumulative GPA to a 3.65. Because the GPA is an average, a larger denominator (more total credits) heavily dilutes the impact of any single new grade, good or bad.

Question 4

What is the difference between cumulative GPA and overall GPA?

Accepted Answer

In most academic contexts, "cumulative GPA" and "overall GPA" are used interchangeably to refer to the mathematical average of all credit hours attempted at your current institution. However, when applying to graduate programs or professional schools, "overall GPA" may refer to the combined average of every college-level class you have ever taken across all institutions (including dual-enrollment high school classes and community college transfers), whereas your "cumulative institutional GPA" only reflects the classes taken at the university granting your final degree.

Question 5

Can my GPA go down if I get a B but my current GPA is a 3.5?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your cumulative GPA will mathematically decrease if you earn any grade that possesses a Grade Point value lower than your current cumulative average. Since a "B" is worth 3.0 Grade Points, adding a 3.0 to an existing average of 3.50 will pull the overall average downward. Conversely, if your current GPA is a 2.50, earning that exact same "B" (3.0) will pull your overall average upward.

Question 6

How do AP and IB classes affect the calculation?

Accepted Answer

In an Unweighted GPA calculation, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes are treated exactly like standard classes, capped at a maximum of 4.0 points. In a Weighted GPA calculation, high schools typically add a full 1.0 point bonus to the scale for these rigorous courses, meaning an "A" awards 5.0 points, a "B" awards 4.0 points, and a "C" awards 3.0 points. This weighted system mathematically incentivizes students to attempt harder coursework by ensuring a "B" in an AP class carries the same GPA weight as an "A" in a standard-level class.

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