What's an Unweighted GPA? How to Calculate It (2023)

FAQs

How do you figure out unweighted GPA? ›

Once you have the grade point for every course, the unweighted GPA is calculated by adding all of the grade points together, then dividing the sum by the number of courses that were added. This is how averages are calculated, which is why this is called a grade point average.

The traditional unweighted GPA scale ranges from 0 to 4.0, while the weighted scale spans from 0 to 5.0. Schools that use a weighted scale assign more points to honors and AP classes. For example, students who earn an A in AP Calculus would receive a 5.0 on a weighted scale and only a 4.0 on an unweighted scale.

​ For example, if you had a 4.7 weighted GPA for an AP class, then subtract the 1.0 that was added to weight it, and it'll bring it down to a 3.7 on an unweighted scale.

According to College Board, the 4.0 unweighted scale is often used by colleges and high schools. A 3.7 GPA as a letter grade is A-. Converted to a percentage, a 3.7 GPA shows you've scored an average of 90-92% in all your classes. An unweighted GPA doesn't consider the difficulty of your classes.

Unweighted GPA. An unweighted GPA is the average of all your grades on the 4.0 scale above. Some high schools use a weighted GPA scale, which gives more points (greater "weight") to grades in accelerated courses like Honors Biology or AP French.

The average GPA may be higher, especially in the higher-end schools in the system, but this gives you an idea of what to expect. Simply put, a good unweighted GPA is usually around 3.5 or higher.

A high unweighted GPA indicates an academically successful student, and a high weighted GPA demonstrates they can maintain that level of success when faced with rigorous coursework. Institutions value both of those indicators when they consider students for admission.

The average high school GPA in the US is 3.0, which also accounts for roughly 35% of students who don't end up applying for college. However, for college applicants, the average GPA is more likely between 3.5 and 4.0.

First off, you should know what constitutes weighted and unweighted GPA in high school. Traditional GPAs are unweighted, which means they're measured on a scale from 0 to 4.0. A 4.0 is an A average, a 3.0 is a B average, a 2.0 is a C average, a 1.0 is a D average, and anything below that represents a failing grade.

What is a 7.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale? ›

One is an unweighted GPA, which calculates your overall average grade out of 4.0, without regard to the difficulty of your coursework. The other is a weighted GPA, which reflects both grades and course levels.

Continue to work hard, take difficult classes, and show your passions outside of school! To get to Harvard your GPA has to be at least a 4.0 and even then if you get in your lucky but they require at least a 4.18 GPA only .

Is a 3.2 GPA in high school considered good? Earning a 3.2 GPA, two-tenths above the national average GPA is generally considered a good GPA. It shows academic proficiency and consistency, as well as makes you eligible to apply to a high number of colleges.

The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 2.3 GPA puts you below that average. A 2.3 GPA means that you've gotten only C-s and D+s in your high school classes so far. Since this GPA is significantly below a 2.0, it will make things very difficult for you in the college application process.

Colleges will look at either weighted or unweighted GPAs in your application. They do tend to prefer weighted, because it gives more information about the difficulty of your classes, but don't worry if your school uses an unweighted scale.

A 4.2 indicates that you are earning Bs and B+s in high level classes or As and A+s in mid level classes. This is a very good GPA, and it should give you a strong chance of admission at most colleges. 99.36% of schools have an average GPA below a 4.2. You can apply to colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.

A 2.7 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a B- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to a 80-82%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.7 is below average, but is getting close.

What is the highest unweighted GPA? ›

The unweighted scale is most common, and the highest possible GPA on this scale is a 4.0. The unweighted scale doesn't take the difficulty of a student's classes into account. Weighted scales are also used at many high schools. Typically, they go up to a 5.0.

Many students have questions about weighted GPAs vs unweighted GPAs. Once they learn colleges primarily look at unweighted GPA's, a common follow-up question is how big the difference between, say, a 3.85 GPA and a 3.9 GPA actually is.

A GPA, or grade point average, is an average of all high school grades. A 2.4 GPA is considered a C+, and is right on the cusp of a B- average, which is much more marketable to colleges and universities.

The main way to raise your unweighted GPA is to get better grades. There are several ways to go about this, such as studying more, working with your teacher, and improving your test-taking skills.

A 2.9 GPA is equivalent to 84% or a B letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.9 is an okay GPA, just a tiny bit below average and with a few quick tips can easily be improved to stand out from the crowd.

One is not better than the other. The only rule of thumb is to report the GPA that is higher and that makes you look like a better student. As long as you report the higher GPA accurately and make sure that you label it as the correct type of GPA (weighted vs. unweighted), you're good to go.

Is a 3.0 GPA in high school considered good? A 3.0 GPA indicates a grade average of “B” and makes you eligible to apply to a wide range of schools, so yes! A 3.0 GPA is generally considered “good.”

In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard. That means nearly straight As in every class.

Is a 2.5 GPA good? The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 2.5 GPA puts you below that average. A 2.5 GPA means that you've gotten only C-s and D+s in your high school classes so far.

A 2.5 GPA means that you've earned high Cs and low Bs across all of your classes. This GPA is below the 3.0 national average for high school students, and it will most likely make it difficult for you to get into all but the least selective colleges. 2.12% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.5.

What is a 95% GPA on a 4.0 scale? ›

What is a 95 GPA on a 4.0 scale? It's a 4.0, normally. 98-100 is 4.3 (A+) in many schools. 91-93 is A- (3.7).

To convert percentages to GPA, you must assign each percentage a letter grade. Typically, 90-100% is an A. 80-89% is a B. 70-79% is a C. 60-69% is a D. 0-59% is an F. An A is worth 4 points.

A five-point weighted average is given to students in an AP class that uses weighted grading for each of the four letter grades: As, Bs, Cs, and Ds. A student who only enrolls in AP courses and earns As will therefore have a GPA of 5.0.

Unweighted to Weighted GPA

Multiply your unweighted GPA by the count of classes you have taken. Add 0.5 for each mid-level course you've registered for and 1.0 for each high course. Divide the outcome by the total number of courses you have taken.

On the unweighted scale: absolutely! This is especially true if your school doesn't distinguish between an A and an A+. Many dedicated students will be able to earn a 4.0 GPA by taking a variety of classes (regular → advanced) and earning an A in each course.

Is a 3.5 GPA good? A 3.5 unweighted GPA means that you've earned an A- average across all of your classes. You're well above the national average for GPA and should have a solid chance of acceptance at a wide variety of colleges. 76.4% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.5.

None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply regardless of their GPA.

A GPA higher than 5.0 is rare, but school point systems are occasionally structured so that students taking advanced classes can rack up bonus points. One student even managed to land a stunning 10.03 GPA by taking 17 advanced classes at a school that awarded bonus points.

You should also have a 4.14 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Yale, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.

Is a 2.8 GPA Good? Because a 2.8 is two tenths of a point from a B average, a 2.8 GPA indicates several grades that are of above average quality and that your performance on homework and exams was up to par.

Is a 2.8 unweighted GPA bad? ›

A 2.8 GPA is just below the national average. Most colleges and universities look for a GPA of at least 3.0 on your application.

A 2.8 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a B- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale, and a percentage grade of 80–82.

You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.

With a 2.3 GPA, admission in 4-year colleges or universities will be difficult. However, you can take a closer look at institutions such as Livingstone College, Southern Vermont College, and Southern University at New Orleans, all three of which accept students with an average GPA of 2.3-2.4.

Is a 1.9 GPA good? The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 1.9 GPA puts you below that average. A 1.9 GPA means that you've gotten only C-s and D+s in your high school classes so far.

That being said, ​all you have to do is subtract whatever was added to the final grade for each class and adjust accordingly. ​ For example, if you had a 4.7 weighted GPA for an AP class, then subtract the 1.0 that was added to weight it, and it'll bring it down to a 3.7 on an unweighted scale.

The main difference between the two is that weighted GPAs take into account the difficulty of your coursework and unweighted GPAs don't. Most unweighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 4.0, and most weighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 5.0.

What's the Difference Between a Weighted 3.8 GPA and an Unweighted? A weighted 3.8 GPA takes the difficulty of your courses into account and is typically measured between 0 to 5.0. An unweighted GPA of 3.8 is considered “higher” because it's on a 4.0 scale.

Cumulative (Unweighted)-This GPA includes grades from all of the courses listed on the transcript grade 9-12. Unweighted means that all courses are considered equal in weight regardless of AP, IB, or Honors level.

How do you get a 4.0 unweighted? ›

But to achieve an unweighted 4.0 GPA, which doesn't offer extra credit for advanced courses, you'll need to earn straight A's. Some schools do award a 4.3 for an A+, meaning you could theoretically get an A- if you also have an A+ on your transcript, but this is not the case across the board.

What GPA do I need to get into Harvard? To be considered for admission to Harvard, you must earn top grades in high school. The Harvard Crimson reports that the average reported GPA of entering freshmen in the class of 2022 was 3.90 on a 4.0 unweighted scale.

A 3.9 GPA can be composed of three years of two semesters, each semester containing 5 classes, and all grades equal to As except 3, which are Bs. A 3.85 GPA is the same but 1 or 2 more Bs.

Is a 2.5 GPA good? The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 2.5 GPA puts you below that average. A 2.5 GPA means that you've gotten only C-s and D+s in your high school classes so far.