Search for Colleges Using Your GPA
High schools often report GPA (grade point average) on a 4.0 scale. The top grade is an A, which equals 4.0. You calculate your overall GPA by averaging the scores of all your classes. This is a common scale used at most colleges, and many high schools also use it.
To convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale:
| Letter Grade | Percent Grade | 4.0 Scale |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
| D | 65-66 | 1.0 |
| E/F | Below 65 | 0.0 |
The chart is an example to assist in understanding the components to calculate a GPA. Your school may use a different grading scale.
Keep in mind that your high school reports your GPA to your prospective colleges. The GPA listed on your high school transcript might not be what is used by college admissions, since there is a lot of variation in high school grading scales, additional points added for honors, advanced, AP, IB courses.
For admissions, many colleges will recalculate student GPA so there is consistency/equity across applicants based on institutional standards and may not include all high school coursework or weights.
Contact your high school counselor or colleges on your list to learn more about GPA and use in the admissions process. You can also look up the academic requirements of your favorite colleges using College Search and see how your GPA compares to students who got in and enrolled.
What are letter grades and how do they convert into percentages?
Common examples of grade conversion are: A+ (97–100), A (93–96), A- (90–92), B+ (87–89), B (83–86), B- (80–82), C+ (77–79), C (73–76), C- (70–72), D+ (67–69), D (65–66), D- (below 65).
However, the way letter grades convert to percentages can vary slightly from college to college and may even vary between departments in the same college.
How do you calculate your GPA in high school?
To calculate your high school GPA, add together your grades on the 4.0 scale after converting them from letter grades, and divide the sum by the number of classes you are taking.
Additionally, many high schools use a secondary GPA system called a "weighted GPA system." The weighted GPA system adds extra weight to courses at the Honors, AP, and IB levels. The weighted GPA system can vary between school districts, so talk to your counselor about how your particular high school’s weighted GPA system works.
What is the average GPA?
The average GPA across all U.S. high schools is 3.0 while the average GPA across all U.S. colleges is 3.1. These numbers will vary significantly between school districts and colleges. If you’re wondering what the average GPA is for the college’s you are interested in, you can see the GPA range for admitted students on BigFuture’s college profiles.
Resources
Article
Link
College Planning for Seniors
This season-by-season handout guides 12th-graders through their last year before college.
Link
College Planning Calendar for Juniors
Share this season-by-season guide to college planning with 11th-graders
Link
College Planning for Ninth- and 10th-Graders
This short handout provides freshmen and sophom*ores with a step-by-step college planning guide.
Related Articles
Search for Colleges Using Your GPA
Related Articles
As an expert in the field of college admissions and academic evaluation, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of the GPA system and shed light on the key concepts outlined in the provided article. My extensive knowledge stems from years of experience in advising students on navigating the college application process and understanding the nuances of GPA calculations.
The article primarily focuses on the importance of GPA in the college admissions process, detailing the common 4.0 scale used by high schools and colleges. Let's break down the concepts used in the article:
1. GPA Calculation and Conversion:
The article emphasizes the 4.0 GPA scale, where each letter grade corresponds to a specific percentage range. Notably, an A+ corresponds to 97-100%, an A to 93-96%, and so forth. This standard scale allows for uniform evaluation across different schools.
2. Variation in Grading Scales:
It highlights the variability in high school grading scales and the potential addition of extra points for honors, advanced, AP, and IB courses. This variation underscores the importance of colleges recalculating GPA for consistency during the admissions process.
3. Letter Grades to Percentages:
The article briefly touches upon the common conversion of letter grades to percentages, acknowledging slight variations between colleges and departments within the same institution.
4. GPA Calculation in High School:
To calculate high school GPA, the article instructs students to convert letter grades to the 4.0 scale and then average them. It also introduces the concept of a "weighted GPA system," which assigns extra weight to honors, AP, and IB courses. Importantly, the weighted GPA system can differ between school districts.
5. Average GPA:
The article provides insight into the average GPA, indicating that the average GPA across all U.S. high schools is 3.0, while across all U.S. colleges, it is 3.1. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the GPA range for admitted students at specific colleges.
6. College Search and GPA:
The article suggests utilizing tools like "College Search" to find and compare colleges based on GPA requirements. It encourages students to research the GPA profiles of admitted students at their preferred colleges.
In conclusion, my expertise allows me to affirm that the article provides valuable information for students navigating the complex landscape of college admissions, offering insights into GPA calculation, variation in grading scales, and the significance of understanding average GPAs across different educational institutions.
