USA · 4.3 Scale

Cornell University
GPA Calculator

Calculate your Cornell GPA and convert it to percentage using the official 4.3 quality-point scale used on your Big Red transcript.

Tool 1

Cornell GPA Calculator

Add each course with its letter grade and credit hours. Calculation uses Cornell's official quality-point values.

Add Your Courses

Cornell uses a 4.3 quality-point scale. A+ counts as 4.3 and the GPA is not capped at 4.0.

The Math

How Cornell GPA Is Calculated

Cornell multiplies each grade point by credit hours to get quality points, then divides total quality points by total graded credits.

Cornell GPA Formula
\[ \text{GPA} = \frac{\displaystyle\sum \text{Quality Points}}{\displaystyle\sum \text{Graded Credit Hours}} = \frac{\displaystyle\sum (\text{Grade Point} \times \text{Credit Hours})}{\displaystyle\sum \text{Credit Hours}} \]
Quality PointsGrade point value × credit hours for each course
Graded CreditsTotal letter-graded credit hours (excludes S/U, INC, R, W, etc.)

📝 Worked Example

A four-course semester at Cornell:

CourseCredit HoursGradeGrade PointQuality Points
BIOG 14404.0A−3.74 × 3.7 = 14.80
ECON 11103.0B+3.33 × 3.3 = 9.90
MATH 11103.0A4.03 × 4.0 = 12.00
ENGL 11003.0B3.03 × 3.0 = 9.00
Total13.045.70

Plugging into the formula:

\[ \text{GPA} = \frac{45.70}{13.0} \approx \mathbf{3.52} \]
Tool 2

Cornell GPA to Percentage Converter

Convert your 4.3-scale Cornell GPA to an equivalent percentage instantly.

Convert GPA → Percentage

Enter any Cornell GPA between 0.0 and 4.3.

The Conversion Formula

Cornell's maximum grade point is 4.3, so:

\[ \text{Percentage} = \left(\frac{\text{GPA}}{4.3}\right) \times 100 \]

Example: If your GPA is 3.7, then Percentage = (3.7 ÷ 4.3) × 100 ≈ 86.05%.

Tip: If an external evaluator caps A+ at 4.0, use the standard 4.0-scale conversion (GPA × 25) instead.

Reference

Official Cornell Grading Scale

Quality-point values used to compute semester and cumulative GPA, sourced from the Cornell University Registrar.

📘 Cornell Grade Point Equivalents (4.3 Scale)

Note: Cornell awards A+ = 4.3 and does not cap the cumulative GPA at 4.0.

Letter GradeGrade PointDefinition
A+4.3Excellent to very good
A4.0Excellent
A−3.7Excellent
B+3.3Good
B3.0Good
B−2.7Good
C+2.3Satisfactory
C2.0Satisfactory
C−1.7Satisfactory (S/U threshold)
D+1.3Poor / Passing
D1.0Poor / Passing
D−0.7Poor / Passing
F0.0Failure

📌 Symbols Used in Lieu of Grades

The following carry no quality points and are excluded from GPA: S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), INC (Incomplete), R (In Progress / first term of a year-long course), NG/NGR (No Grade), W (Withdrawal), and audited courses.

Under the S/U option, S represents work that would earn C− or higher, and U represents work below C−.

Got Questions?

Cornell GPA — Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA scale does Cornell University use?

Cornell uses a 4.3 quality-point scale: A+ = 4.3, A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B− = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C− = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D− = 0.7, and F = 0.0.

Can my Cornell GPA be higher than 4.0?

Yes. Because A+ = 4.3 and Cornell does not cap the GPA at 4.0, earning A+ grades can lift your cumulative GPA above 4.0. Be aware that many graduate-school and external evaluators recalculate A+ as 4.0.

How do I convert my Cornell GPA to a percentage?

Use Percentage = (GPA ÷ 4.3) × 100, which reflects Cornell's maximum 4.3 grade point. For example, a GPA of 3.7 converts to about 86.05%.

Which grades are left out of my Cornell GPA?

Grades of S, U, INC, R, NG/NGR, W and audited courses carry no quality points and are excluded from both quality points and graded credits, so they don't affect your GPA.

What GPA do I need to stay in good standing at Cornell?

Undergraduates are generally expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA (a C average) to remain in good academic standing, though specific colleges within Cornell may set additional requirements.

Reference: All grading data verified against the Cornell University Courses of Study — Exams and Grading.