The three numbers to find
- GPA hours or GPA units: the course weight included in the average.
- Grade points: the number assigned to a letter grade.
- Quality points: grade points multiplied by GPA hours or units.
GPA = total quality points ÷ total GPA units
Worked transcript example
A transcript lists 128.4 cumulative quality points and 40 cumulative GPA units. Dividing 128.4 by 40 gives a 3.210 GPA. A separate “earned hours” total of 43 should not replace the 40 unless the transcript key says those hours belong in the GPA denominator.
The difference can come from transfer credit, pass/fail work, withdrawals, or other non-GPA credit.
Try the numbers
Rebuild a GPA from a transcript
Look for cumulative quality points and GPA hours or units—not total earned credits.
Labels are not perfectly standardized
Illinois uses “GPA hours” and “quality points.” UCLA describes “units attempted” and grade points. Cornell's key uses credit hours where grade points are recorded. The structure is the same, but the inclusion rules and final display can differ.
Enter your cumulative GPA and completed GPA units in the calculator before adding future courses.
Policy sources
Policies vary by institution and can change. These official sources support the school-specific statements above; your registrar is the final authority.
- University of Illinois Registrar — Calculate Your GPA defines GPA hours, quality points, and truncation.
- UCLA Catalog — Grades provides a worked unit-and-grade-point example.
- Cornell University Registrar — Transcript Key explains its GPA calculation.
Written and independently checked by GPA Clarity · Last reviewed September 9, 2026