Calculate Your GPA
Note: American University does not rank its students.
The grade point average (GPA) listed at the end of each semester is for that semester only. The cumulative grade point average is shown only when a degree has been granted. The cumulative grade point average does not include course with grades other than A through F or courses covered by the Freshman Forgiveness Rule.* The graduate cumulative grade point average includes only graduate-level courses that are part of the specific graduate degree program.
To calculate the cumulative grade point average, divide the sum of the quality points by the sum of semesters hours:
GPA = Total Quality Points divided by Hours Attempted
Quality Points = Grade Point Value multiplied by Course Credit Value
Grading System for 1978 - Summer 2012:
Grade Grade Point Value Grade Grade Point Value A 4.0 C+ 2.3 A- 3.7 C 2.0 B+ 3.3 C- 1.7 B 3.0 D 1.0 B- 2.7 F, X 0.0 The following grades are not calculated in the grade point average:
I, IP, L, N, P, ZF, ZL, ZX
*Freshman Forgiveness Rule: A freshman who fails a course may repeat it within one year and have only the grade earned in the second attempt included in the grade point average. The first attempt remains part of the academic record.
Sample Semester Calculation (1978 - Summer 2012)
| Course # | Title | Grade | Credits | Quality Points |
| LIT-100-002 | College Writing | A- | 3 | 11.1 |
| STAT-202-004 | Basic Statistics | B | 4 | 12 |
| CHIN-112-001 | Chinese, Intensive Elementary I | B+ | 5 | 16.5 |
| SIS-105-003 | World Politics | A | 3 | 12 |
| HFIT-197-001 | Aerobic Dance | P | 2 | not counted in GPA |
Total Quality Points = 51.6
Hours Attempted (not including 2 credits for P grade) = 1551.6 / 15 = 3.44
GPA = 3.44
Note: The GPA is truncated after the second digit. It is not rounded off.
Between fall 1970 and fall 1978
Transcripts include undergraduate courses taken under the course unit system. Total all the course units and multiply by four, and then add to the total number of semester hours:
GPA = quality points divided by semester hours + (course units x 4)
Before fall 1970
A 3-point grading scale was used. Also all work attempted (as distinct from satisfactorily completed) was included in the calculation as "hours attempted." To combine the 3-point and 4 -point systems, the following formula is used:
GPA = [quality points + hours attempted (3 point systems) + quality points (4-point system)] divided by [hours attempted (3-point system) + hours attempted (4-point system)]
