GPA Conversion — US Standard Scale
Letter Grade to GPA — pick your grade,
get the number.
Select any US letter grade — A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, all the way to F — and instantly see its 4.0 GPA point value and CollegeBoard percentage range. No formulas, no guessing. The reverse direction (GPA → letter) is the GPA to Letter Grade Converter.
How to use
From letter grade to GPA
in four steps
Select it from the dropdown
Choose your grade from the dropdown selector. The result appears immediately — no need to click a calculate button. The GPA value, percentage range, and academic standing description display all at once.
Use the GPA for planning and applications
Use the result to predict your semester GPA from your expected grades, compare against scholarship or program minimums, or understand how a single grade affects your cumulative average. For full semester calculations, try the College GPA Calculator.
Complete reference
All letter grades
and GPA values
The standard US 4.0 scale has 13 letter grades. Here is the complete table with GPA values, percentage ranges, and what each grade signals for academic standing:
| Letter Grade | 4.0 GPA | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% | Exceptional |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% | Excellent |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92% | Strong |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% | Good |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% | Above average |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82% | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% | Average |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% | Minimum standing |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72% | Below average |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% | Poor |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% | Minimum pass |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62% | Marginal pass |
| F | 0.0 | 0–59% | Failing |
Source: CollegeBoard AP Course and Exam Description, which defines the standard US letter-grade-to-GPA mapping used by the majority of US high schools and universities.
Why B+ is 3.3, not 3.5
One of the most common misconceptions in US grading: students assume the midpoint between B (3.0) and A (4.0) is 3.5, and assign that to B+. But the scale doesn't work that way. Each plus/minus step is a fixed 0.3-point increment — not a proportional division. So B (3.0) + 0.3 = B+ (3.3), and B+ (3.3) + 0.4 = A− (3.7). The 0.4 gap between B+ and A− (and the same between A− and A) is the widest single step on the scale.
What counts toward GPA and what doesn't
Letter grades from A+ through F all count toward GPA calculation. These administrative codes do not count:
- P / NP (Pass / No Pass): Pass/fail courses are excluded from GPA at most schools.
- W (Withdrawal): A W appears on the transcript but does not affect GPA (though excessive W grades can affect academic standing reviews).
- I (Incomplete): Temporary placeholder; converts to a letter grade (or F) when resolved.
- AU (Audit): No credit, no GPA impact.
- S / U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory): Used in some pass/fail or thesis courses; typically excluded from GPA.
For more detail on which grades contribute and how course repetitions work, see our guide: What Counts Toward Your GPA.
Achievability scenarios
Letter grade → GPA:
three real situations
These scenarios show how knowing the exact GPA behind a letter grade changes decisions — from discovering that B+ is not 3.5, to seeing how plus/minus grades compound over a semester.
Aiko discovers she's closer to 3.5 than she thought
Aiko is applying for a merit scholarship that requires a 3.5 GPA. She earned A− in two courses, B+ in two more, and B in one. She uses this converter and finds: A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0.
Her semester GPA: (3.7+3.7+3.3+3.3+3.0) ÷ 5 = 3.4. She's at 3.4, just below the 3.5 threshold — but knowing this now gives her time to push for A− instead of B+ in the current semester before the application deadline.
(3.7+3.7+3.3+3.3+3.0) ÷ 5 = 3.4
Gap to 3.5: 0.1 GPA points
One A− instead of B+: +0.08 per course
Carlos thought B+ was halfway to an A — it isn't
Carlos is projecting his semester GPA and estimates B+ = 3.5 (halfway between B's 3.0 and A's 4.0). He's hoping to hit a 3.5 semester GPA with four B+ grades.
The converter shows the truth: B+ = 3.3, not 3.5. Four B+ grades = 3.3 semester GPA — 0.2 points short of his goal. To hit 3.5, he'd need to earn at least two A− grades (3.7) in a four-course semester alongside two B+ (3.3). This is a concrete planning error the converter prevents.
To reach 3.5: need 2 × A− + 2 × B+
= (3.7+3.7+3.3+3.3) ÷ 4 = 3.5 ✓
The hidden cost of a B− in a required course
Priya needs to maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep her academic scholarship. She earns A, B+, B, and B− across four courses. She assumed that "mostly Bs" would keep her above 3.0.
Converter result: A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B− = 2.7. Semester GPA: (4.0+3.3+3.0+2.7) ÷ 4 = 3.25. She's safe this semester — but the B− dragged her down 0.075 points from where four B grades would have put her (3.33). If the B− had been in a higher-credit course, the impact would have been larger. The plus/minus distinction isn't trivial over time.
All B's: (4.0+3.0+3.0+3.0) ÷ 4 = 3.25 same
All B+ vs all B−: 3.3 vs 2.7 — 0.6 difference
Compounded over 8 semesters: significant drift
Pass/fail and special grades
When letter grade to GPA
gets complex
The standard table works for the majority of US college courses, but there are situations where the conversion isn't straightforward:
- A+ may not exist: Some universities don't award A+ grades. In those systems, A is the highest letter grade and = 4.0. Others award A+ but still assign it 4.0 (not 4.33) on the standard scale. A 4.33 scale is a different grading system.
- Pass/Fail courses: Grades of P (Pass) and F (Fail) in pass/fail courses don't contribute to GPA at most schools. A "Pass" does not equal any specific GPA value, and taking a course pass/fail typically prevents a high grade from boosting your GPA. Use pass/fail strategically.
- W (Withdrawal) and I (Incomplete): These are administrative grades and don't calculate into GPA. Excessive withdrawals can affect academic standing, financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and visa status without appearing as GPA drops.
- Repeated courses: Most schools use grade forgiveness for repeated courses — the old grade is replaced by the new one in GPA calculation, though both appear on the transcript. Check your school's policy: some average both grades instead.
- Transfer credits: Transfer grades may convert to a pass/no-pass at the receiving institution and not affect GPA, or may be recalculated using the receiving school's scale. See our GPA and College Admissions guide for how transferred GPAs are viewed.
- AP / IB / dual enrollment: These courses follow the same letter-grade-to-GPA table but may earn weighted GPA bonuses at the high school level. See our Weighted GPA Calculator for that calculation.
FAQ
Letter grade to GPA
questions answered
What GPA is a B+ grade?
B+ = 3.3 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale, corresponding to 87–89%. B+ is one of the most misremembered values — many students guess 3.5, but the actual value is 3.3. B+ sits between B (3.0) and A− (3.7) with a 0.3-point step on each side.
What GPA is an A-minus?
A− (A-minus) = 3.7 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale, corresponding to 90–92%. The difference between A− (3.7) and A (4.0) is 0.3 points — one grade step. Cumulative GPAs often cluster around 3.7 for honor-roll students.
What GPA is a C?
C = 2.0 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale, corresponding to 73–76%. A C (2.0) is the minimum GPA for good academic standing at most US universities and for federal financial aid eligibility (Satisfactory Academic Progress). Below 2.0 cumulative triggers academic probation.
What GPA is a D?
D = 1.0 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale, corresponding to 63–66%. A D earns course credit and counts toward graduation credits at most schools, but it significantly drags down cumulative GPA. Some programs require C or better in required courses even if a D technically passes.
Does plus/minus grading significantly affect cumulative GPA?
Yes — over a full course load, the 0.3-point difference between plus and minus versions of the same letter adds up meaningfully. If you're borderline on a B+ vs B for your final grade, that 0.3 difference across four courses shifts your semester GPA by up to 0.3. For students near GPA thresholds (3.0, 3.5, etc.), a single grade step can make or break eligibility.
Why does A+ equal 4.0 and not 4.33?
On the standard 4.0 scale, the maximum is 4.0 — there's no room above it. A 4.33 scale is a different system used by some universities (like UC Davis) specifically to reward A+ performance. On those scales, A+ = 4.33 and A = 4.0. This converter uses the standard 4.0 scale where A+ = A = 4.0.
Does a pass/fail course affect GPA?
At most schools, no — P (Pass) and NP (No Pass) grades are excluded from GPA calculation entirely. This means taking a course pass/fail protects your GPA if you're worried about a low grade, but also prevents a high grade from boosting it. Some schools require minimum enrollment in graded courses for financial aid eligibility. See our guide: Does Pass/Fail Affect GPA?
How many letter grades are on the US 4.0 scale?
The standard US scale has 13 letter grades: A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D−, and F. Some schools omit plus/minus grades and use only A, B, C, D, F — a 5-grade system where A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0.
Do graduate schools use a different letter-grade-to-GPA table?
No — the letter-grade-to-GPA conversion is the same in graduate school. However, the effective "passing" threshold is different: most graduate programs require B (3.0 GPA) as the minimum acceptable grade, and falling below 3.0 cumulative often triggers academic probation. A D or C grade that "passes" in undergrad typically fails to satisfy a graduate course requirement. See our GPA for Graduate School guide.
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