A GPA on the standard 4.0 scale turns each letter grade into grade points: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0 and F = 0, with plus and minus grades in between. So a 3.7 GPA means an A− average, a 3.0 is a B average, and a 2.0 is a C average. The chart below shows the full mapping, including the percentage range most US schools use for each letter.
To work out your own number from credits and grades, use the GPA Calculator.
GPA scale chart: letter grade, percentage and grade points
This is the most common US conversion. Individual schools publish their own tables, so check your handbook if a cut-off matters.
| Letter grade | Percentage | Grade points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 (4.3 at some schools) |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 65–66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65% | 0.0 |
Two details cause most confusion:
- A+ is not always worth more than an A. Many high schools and colleges cap it at 4.0. Others count it as 4.3. The UtilityKit calculator counts A+ as 4.3; if your school caps it, choose A instead.
- Some schools skip D+ and D−. Others use a 60% cut-off for passing instead of 65%. The grade points stay the same; only the percentage bands move.
What each GPA means
Read your GPA as the letter grade it sits closest to:
- 4.0 — straight A's in every class (the maximum on an unweighted scale).
- 3.7 — an A− average.
- 3.5 — halfway between A− and B+.
- 3.3 — a B+ average.
- 3.0 — a B average.
- 2.7 — a B− average.
- 2.5 — halfway between B− and C+.
- 2.0 — a C average, which is the minimum many colleges require to stay in good academic standing.
Which GPAs count as good?
A 3.7, for example, means you averaged an A− across your classes, which is strong at almost any high school or college. It meets the GPA requirement of most scholarships and honors programs, which commonly set the bar at 3.0 or 3.5. At the most selective universities, admitted students often have unweighted GPAs close to 4.0, so a 3.7 is competitive there but not a stand-out on its own; course difficulty, test scores and essays carry more weight.
The same reasoning works for any number:
- 3.5–4.0 is excellent and opens most doors.
- 3.0–3.4 is solid and meets most program minimums.
- 2.5–2.9 is below average for four-year college admission but acceptable at many schools, especially with an upward trend.
- 2.0–2.4 usually meets the minimum to stay enrolled but limits scholarships and transfer options.
"Good" also depends on whether the number is weighted. A 3.7 weighted GPA that includes AP bonuses can reflect mostly B+ grades. See weighted vs unweighted GPA for how the boost works.
For a section on every GPA from 2.5 to 4.0 and how each compares with the national average, see What Is a Good GPA?.
How to convert a percentage to GPA
- Find each class's percentage in the table above and read off its letter grade.
- Note the grade points for that letter.
- Weight each class by its credits: multiply its grade points by its credit hours.
- Add those products and divide by your total credits.
For example, 91% (A−, 3.7) in a 3-credit class and 85% (B, 3.0) in a 4-credit class give (3.7 × 3 + 3.0 × 4) ÷ 7 = 23.1 ÷ 7 = 3.30.
Avoid averaging the raw percentages first and converting once at the end. Two classes at 89% and 93% average 91% (A−, 3.7), but class by class they are a B+ (3.3) and an A (4.0), which average 3.65. Letter cut-offs make the two methods disagree.
A 4.0 GPA in percentage
On the common scale, a 4.0 means every grade was in the A range, which is 93% or higher in each class. A 3.0 corresponds to the B range (83–86%), and a 2.0 to the C range (73–76%). There is no single official formula: some schools convert with a straight line, so always quote the table your school or the receiving institution uses.
FAQ
What GPA is a B+?
A B+ is worth 3.3 grade points on the 4.0 scale. If all your grades were B+, your GPA would be 3.3.
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
A 3.0 is a B average. It meets the minimum for many scholarships, honors programs and graduate schools, though competitive programs often look for 3.5 or higher.
Is a 2.5 GPA bad?
A 2.5 sits between a B− and a C+. It is below what many four-year colleges look for, but it keeps you in good standing at most schools and can be raised with a few strong terms.
Can your GPA be higher than 4.0?
Only on a weighted scale. Honors, AP and IB classes can add 0.5 or 1.0 grade points, so weighted GPAs commonly run up to 5.0. Unweighted GPAs top out at 4.0, or 4.3 where A+ counts extra.
Do all schools use the same GPA scale?
No. Most US schools use the 4.0 scale, but percentage cut-offs, A+ values and weighting rules vary. Many countries use entirely different systems, such as 10-point or percentage scales, so conversions for applications abroad should follow the receiving institution's rules.