USA · 4.0 Scale

Penn State University
GPA Calculator

Calculate your Penn State GPA and convert it to percentage using the official plus/minus 4.0 quality-point scale shown on your Penn State transcript.

Tool 1

Penn State GPA Calculator

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

Add Your Courses

Penn State uses a plus/minus 4.0 scale. The highest grade is A (4.00) — there is no A+.

The Math

How Penn State GPA Is Calculated

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

Penn State GPA Formula
\[ \text{GPA} = \frac{\displaystyle\sum \text{Quality Points}}{\displaystyle\sum \text{Graded Credits}} = \frac{\displaystyle\sum (\text{Grade Point} \times \text{Credit Hours})}{\displaystyle\sum \text{Credit Hours}} \]
Quality PointsGrade point value × credit hours for each course
Graded CreditsTotal credits with a quality grade (excludes SA, UN, transfer, etc.)

📝 Worked Example

A sample term with three courses:

CourseCredit HoursGradeGrade PointQuality Points
ENGL 0153.0A4.003 × 4.00 = 12.00
MATH 1404.0B−2.674 × 2.67 = 10.68
PSYCH 1003.0C+2.333 × 2.33 = 6.99
Total10.029.67

Plugging into the formula:

\[ \text{GPA} = \frac{29.67}{10.0} \approx \mathbf{2.97} \]
Tool 2

Penn State GPA to Percentage Converter

Convert your 4.0-scale Penn State GPA to an equivalent percentage instantly.

Convert GPA → Percentage

Enter any Penn State GPA between 0.0 and 4.0.

The Conversion Formula

Penn State uses a 4.0 scale, so:

\[ \text{Percentage} = \text{GPA} \times 25 \quad \text{or equivalently} \quad \text{Percentage} = \left(\frac{\text{GPA}}{4.0}\right) \times 100 \]

Example: If your GPA is 3.5, then Percentage = 3.5 × 25 = 87.50%.

Reference

Official Penn State Grading Scale

Grade-point values used to compute semester and cumulative GPA, sourced from the Penn State Office of the University Registrar.

📘 Penn State Quality-Point Values

Note: Penn State has no A+, C−, D+ or D−. The highest grade is A (4.00).

Letter GradeGrade PointDefinition
A4.00Excellent
A−3.67Excellent
B+3.33Good
B3.00Good
B−2.67Good
C+2.33Satisfactory
C2.00Satisfactory / Passing
D1.00Poor (credit, may not meet requirements)
F0.00Failure

📌 Symbols Excluded from GPA

The following symbols carry no quality points and are not counted in graded credits: SA (Satisfactory), UN (Unsatisfactory), DF (Deferred), NG (No Grade), NCP/NCF (non-credit pass/fail), and W (Withdrawal).

Grades earned through transfer credit count toward degree requirements but do not generate quality points and are excluded from your Penn State GPA.

Got Questions?

Penn State GPA — Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA scale does Penn State use?

Penn State uses a plus/minus 4.0 quality-point scale: A = 4.00, A− = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.00, B− = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.00, D = 1.00, and F = 0.00.

Does Penn State have an A+ grade?

No. The highest quality grade is A, worth 4.00 points. Penn State does not award A+, so the maximum GPA is 4.00. There is also no C−, D+, or D−.

How is my Penn State GPA calculated?

For each course, multiply the grade point by credit hours to get quality points. Add all quality points, then divide by the total graded credits. This weighted mean is your semester or cumulative GPA.

How do I convert my Penn State GPA to a percentage?

Use Percentage = GPA × 25 (equivalent to (GPA ÷ 4.0) × 100). For example, a GPA of 3.5 converts to 87.5%.

Do transfer or pass/fail courses affect my Penn State GPA?

No. Transfer credits and SA/UN (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) grades carry no quality points, so they are excluded from your Penn State GPA even though they may count toward your degree.

Reference: All grading data verified against the Penn State Office of the University Registrar — Grade-Point Average.