College Office » GPA - Grade Point Average

GPA - Grade Point Average

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a student’s average grade, computed on a four-point scale: A=4.00, B=3.00, C=2.00, D=1.00, F=0.00.

There are at least seven GPA computations…

Remember that High School starts at 9th grade, but the GPA for college begins in 10th grade.

  1. The most common is the overall unweighted GPA; in which all courses are included in the computation except Physical Education courses; no extra points are given for honors or AP classes. 
  1. Cumulative GPA includes all courses 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade; repeated courses are averaged; and an extra (0.025) point is given for AP classes only.  This GPA is used by Community Colleges for entrance into their Honors programs (typically a 3.00 to 3.50 is required).

a.      Pierce College Honors (3.00) - http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/honors/

b.      Santa Monica College (3.00) -http://www.smc.edu/StudentServices/Scholars/Pages/Program%20Requirements.aspx

c.       LAVC Honors (3.25) - http://www.lavc.edu/tap/eligibility.html

d.      Mission College (3.50) - http://www.lamission.edu/honors/default.aspx

e.       Complete List - http://www.honorstcc.org/

  1. California State University (CSU)is overall weighted; in which all courses are included in the computation except Physical Education courses; extra points are added for each approved* honors and AP class (no more than 8 points can be included).  
    1. CSU GPA calculator
    2. CSU - SAT Score/GPA Index
  1. University of California (UC)is academic weighted: ONLY English, math, science, foreign language, social studies, visual/performing arts (A through G requirements); extra points are added for each approved* honors and AP class (no more than 4 points can be included for 10thgrade). 
    1. UC GPA calculator
    2. UC Eligibility Index
    3. UC Approved Honors and AP Courses
  1. Private Colleges/Universities is academic unwieghted; ONLY English, math, science, foreign language, social studies, are included; no extra points. (Check with each private College or University for their GPA requirements and calculations).  Click here for more information.
  1. Cal-Grantis 10th and 11th grades only, no summer school after 11th; includes all courses expect Physical Education; no extra points; repeated courses are averaged.
  1. LAUSD GPAis all courses 10th, 11th, fall of 12th; repeated courses are averaged; an extra (0.025) point is given for AP classes only.

To calculate your GPA:

  1. Add all the A’s and multiply by 4
  2. Add all the B’s and multiply by 3
  3. Add all the C’s and multiply by 2
  4. Add all the D’s and multiply by 1
  5. Add all the F’s and multiply by 0
  6. Then add all grade points together
  7. Then add all courses
  8. Then divide the grade points by the number of courses

*approved honors and AP courses may be verified on the UC Doorways website àhttps://doorways.ucop.edu/list/app/home?execution=e1s4

Additional Important Websites

http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/gpa_calculator.asp

http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/q-and-a/honors/index.html

http://info.piercecollege.edu/students/honors/ProgramRequirements.pdf