Core formulas
Term GPA = term quality points ÷ term GPA units
Projected GPA = combined quality points ÷ combined GPA units
To project a cumulative GPA, GPA Clarity reconstructs existing quality points as current GPA × completed GPA units. It then adds the quality points and units from planned GPA-bearing courses. Results are displayed to three decimal places, while whole-number units are used in the planner.
Default assumptions
- The website uses a generic 4.0 plus/minus scale: A+ and A are 4.0, A− is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, and the pattern continues to F at 0.0.
- W, CR, and NC are excluded from GPA units in the calculator; WU is treated as 0.0.
- The optional retake setting models full grade replacement by removing the earlier course's units and quality points before applying the new attempt.
- The target calculator assumes the chosen future average continues across all future GPA units.
- The final-grade tool assumes the entered current grade describes completed work and the final weight is its share of the entire course grade.
Withdrawal comparison
When an original grade becomes W, the comparison removes that course's quality points and GPA units from the baseline. It does not add a new graded attempt. The original course must already be included in the baseline totals.
If no GPA units remain, there is no GPA to calculate. Planned courses, when entered, also contribute to the comparison. Read the worked withdrawal examples to isolate the effect of a drop.
Automated checks
Before a website version is released, automated checks build the production site and request the calculator, policy pages, guides, sitemap, and robots file as a browser or search crawler would. They confirm that required metadata and navigation are present, the pages return successfully, and placeholder content has not been published.
Calculation tests run directly against the calculator source used by this website. They cover grade weighting, neutral grades, target projections, invalid inputs, and replacement scenarios, including W and removal of all GPA units. The withdrawal examples show their arithmetic so readers can reproduce the result. School-specific guidance links to the issuing university rather than treating the calculator defaults as institutional policy.
What testing cannot guarantee
No automated test can infer an institution's private exception, a recently changed rule, or how a registrar will classify a particular course. GPA Clarity cannot verify transcript data entered incorrectly. For academic standing, financial aid, graduation, admission, or eligibility decisions, confirm the result with the institution.
Privacy approach
Calculator entries are processed in the browser and do not require an account. GPA Clarity does not intentionally store GPA values, course names, grades, goals, or pasted schedule text. Hosting and security providers may still process ordinary request information, and advertising technology may have separate consent requirements. The current details are maintained in the Privacy Policy.
Corrections and feedback
GPA Clarity is an independently created and maintained student-planning project; it is not affiliated with a university or registrar. Calculation issues, policy corrections, and accessibility feedback can be sent to [email protected].
Editorial standard
Guides are written to answer a distinct student question, show the arithmetic, and name the assumption that can change the answer. University policy links are sources, not decoration. No unsourced summary—automatically generated or otherwise—is treated as an authority. Pages are reviewed for usefulness and accuracy instead of being expanded to hit a word count.
Read the GPA guides or test your own scenario in the calculator.
By GPA Clarity · Last reviewed October 1, 2026