KU GPA Calculator
GPA planningEstimate GPA from current course grades and credits.
| Course | Credits | Grade | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
Use this KU GPA calculator to turn your University of Kansas letter grades and credit hours into an accurate semester GPA or cumulative GPA on KU’s official 4.0 scale — complete with plus/minus grade points.
How the KU GPA Calculator Works
The KU GPA calculator converts your University of Kansas letter grades into grade points (also called quality points), weights each course by its credit hours, and returns your semester GPA or projected cumulative GPA on the standard 4.0 scale. Because KU uses plus/minus grading, the tool applies KU’s exact point values — an A− is worth 3.7 and a B+ is worth 3.3, not a flat 4.0 or 3.0.
Inputs: each course’s letter grade (A through F, with +/−) and its number of credit hours. Outputs: total grade points, total graded credit hours, and your weighted GPA to two decimals. Add your current cumulative GPA and completed hours to project a new University of Kansas GPA after this term.
KU Grading Scale & Grade Points
KU assigns grade points on a 4.0 scale with plus and minus modifiers. The KU grading scale below is used by every undergraduate school except the School of Medicine. Note two KU specifics: there is no A+ — the scale tops out at A = 4.0 — and D− (0.7) is still a passing, credit-bearing grade at the undergraduate level.
| Letter grade | Grade points | Typical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A− | 3.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | Good |
| B | 3.0 | Good |
| B− | 2.7 | Good |
| C+ | 2.3 | Satisfactory |
| C | 2.0 | Satisfactory |
| C− | 1.7 | Satisfactory |
| D+ | 1.3 | Poor (passing) |
| D | 1.0 | Poor (passing) |
| D− | 0.7 | Poor (passing) |
| F | 0.0 | Failing |
How to Calculate Your KU GPA
KU defines Grade Point Average as the total grade points earned divided by the number of credit hours attempted and graded A, B, C, D or F. The GPA formula is:
GPA = Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours graded A–F)
Worked example. Suppose you take four courses in one term: General Chemistry (5 hours, B+), Calculus II (4 hours, A−), English (3 hours, A) and Sociology (3 hours, C+). Multiply each course’s hours by its grade points: 5 × 3.3 = 16.5; 4 × 3.7 = 14.8; 3 × 4.0 = 12.0; 3 × 2.3 = 6.9. Add the grade points (16.5 + 14.8 + 12.0 + 6.9 = 50.2) and the graded hours (5 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 15). Divide: 50.2 ÷ 15 = 3.35 semester GPA.
To find cumulative GPA, apply the same math across every graded course in residence at KU. A shortcut: add this term’s grade points to your prior total grade points, add this term’s graded hours to your prior graded hours, then divide the new totals.
How to Use the KU GPA Calculator
Enter one row per course, and the KU GPA calculator does the credit-hour weighting for you.
- Add a row for each KU course you are taking this term.
- Select the letter grade (including +/−) you earned or expect.
- Enter the course’s credit hours — most KU courses are 3, but labs and language courses often run 4–5.
- Leave out CR/NC, Pass, audit, W and I courses; they carry no grade points.
- Read your semester GPA at the bottom.
- Optional: enter your prior cumulative GPA and total completed hours to project your new cumulative University of Kansas GPA.
KU Honor Roll, Graduation Distinction & GPA Policies
Honor Roll. In the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, you make the Honor Roll by earning a 3.5 minimum semester GPA in at least 12 graded (A–F) hours in a fall or spring term. The notation appears on your transcript. Honor-roll criteria vary by school, and some KU units set their own credit-hour minimums, so confirm with your school if you are outside the College.
Graduation with distinction. KU does not use the Latin labels cum laude, magna and summa in the College the way many schools do. Instead, no more than the top 10% of each graduating class earns graduation with distinction, and no more than the top 3% earns highest distinction. To be eligible you must complete at least 60 credit hours graded A–F in residence at KU. Because the cutoff GPA floats with each class, there is no fixed number — a strong cumulative GPA is what secures it.
Plus/minus handling. KU counts +/− modifiers in the GPA (A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so on), but there is no A+, so a perfect 4.0 is the ceiling. A few marks — W, I, CR, NC, P, S/U and audit — are excluded entirely.
Repeat / grade replacement. For courses repeated in Fall 2021 and later, KU’s automatic grade-replacement policy keeps both attempts on the transcript but counts only the higher grade in your GPA. You are limited to five grade-replacement opportunities total, and you must retake the same course (same department, number and credit hours).
Official KU GPA. The GPA on your official transcript reflects only coursework taken in residence at KU. It excludes transfer credit and credit earned by examination, which appear as earned hours but do not change your grade-point average.
Related GPA & Grade Calculators
Explore more tools in our GPA calculators collection. Compare KU’s scale with the VT GPA Calculator, or, if you are applying to law school, recompute every attempt with the LSAC GPA Calculator. For test-curve questions, see our grade & curve calculators and the Grade Curve Calculator, or read study guides on the blog.
Authoritative KU sources: the KU Registrar — Grades page and the College’s Grade Replacement Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KU use plus/minus grades in GPA?
Yes. KU’s standard scale counts plus and minus modifiers: A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B− = 2.7, and so on. The one exception is that there is no A+ — an A is worth 4.0, which is the maximum grade point.
What GPA do I need for the KU Honor Roll?
In the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences you need a 3.5 minimum semester GPA in at least 12 graded (A–F) hours in a fall or spring term. Other schools within KU may set their own credit-hour minimums, so check your specific unit.
Does KU award cum laude, magna, and summa cum laude?
The College uses graduation with distinction rather than those Latin labels. No more than the top 10% of the graduating class earns distinction and no more than the top 3% earns highest distinction, provided you complete at least 60 A–F hours in residence at KU. Some other KU schools use their own honors terminology.
What is the minimum GPA to graduate from KU?
You generally need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in residence coursework to graduate. Individual majors and programs may require a higher GPA in the major.
How does KU handle a repeated course in my GPA?
For courses repeated in Fall 2021 or later, KU’s automatic grade-replacement policy keeps both attempts on your transcript but counts only the higher grade in your GPA. You are limited to five grade-replacement opportunities and must retake the identical course.
Are transfer credits included in my official KU GPA?
No. The official KU GPA reflects only coursework taken in residence at the University of Kansas. Transfer credit and credit-by-exam appear as earned hours but do not change your grade-point average.
Which grades are left out of the KU GPA calculation?
Marks that carry no grade points — W (withdrawn), I (incomplete), CR/NC (credit/no credit), P (progress or pass), S/U and audit — are excluded. Only courses graded A, B, C, D or F count toward the GPA.
How accurate is this KU GPA calculator?
It uses KU’s official grade-point values and the registrar’s formula (grade points divided by graded hours), so results match your transcript when you enter the same grades and credit hours. It is a planning tool; your official GPA is the one posted in Enroll & Pay.