What is the Weighted vs Unweighted GPA Calculator?
This tool compares two ways of summarizing your academic performance. An unweighted GPA averages your course grade points on a standard scale (typically 0–4.0) without regard to course difficulty. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder classes — such as Honors, AP, or IB — so that challenging coursework is rewarded. Seeing both side by side helps you understand how rigor affects your transcript.
How to use it
Enter your grade points for each course as a comma-separated list (for example 4,3.7,3.3). Then enter the bonus points for each corresponding course in the same order (for example 1,0.5,0 — a full point for an AP class, half a point for Honors, zero for a regular class). The calculator returns your unweighted GPA, your weighted GPA, and the difference between them.
The formula explained
For n courses with base grade points pi and bonus points bi:
$$\text{Unweighted} = \frac{\sum p_i}{n} \qquad \text{Weighted} = \frac{\sum (p_i + b_i)}{n}$$ The difference is simply the average bonus per course.
Worked example
Suppose you took three courses with grade points 4.0, 3.7, and 3.3, earning bonuses of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.0. The base sum is 11.0, so the unweighted GPA is $$\frac{11.0}{3} = 3.67$$ Adding bonuses gives 12.5, so the weighted GPA is $$\frac{12.5}{3} = 4.17$$ The difference is \(0.50\) — the average bonus across your courses.
FAQ
Why can a weighted GPA exceed 4.0? Because bonus points for Honors and AP classes push the average above the standard 4.0 ceiling.
Which GPA do colleges use? It varies — many recalculate using their own scale, but most consider both your GPA and the rigor of your courses.
What if a course has no bonus? Enter 0 for that position so the lists stay aligned.
