Grade To Raise GPA Calculator
Find the GPA you must earn next term to lift your cumulative GPA from where it is now to your target.
How it works
term GPA needed = (target × (old credits + new credits) − current GPA × old credits) ÷ new credits
Your cumulative GPA is a credit-weighted average, so raising it means the next term must carry enough grade points to pull the whole average up. The more credits already on your transcript, the harder that pull: a single term is a small slice of a large denominator. When the required term GPA lands above the scale maximum, the target simply cannot be reached in one term and needs to be spread across several.
Worked example
With a 3.0 GPA over 45 credits and 15 credits next term, reaching a 3.2 cumulative GPA needs (3.2 × 60 − 3.0 × 45) ÷ 15 = (192 − 135) ÷ 15 = 3.8 next term — that is 57 grade points from those 15 credits.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a small GPA jump need such a high term GPA?
Because your past credits dilute the new term. Moving a 45-credit average by 0.2 requires the 15 new credits to be far above the target, since they are only a quarter of the final total.
The result exceeds 4.0 — is my target impossible?
In a single term, yes. Take fewer past credits into account it cannot, but you can reach the target over two or more terms — repeat the calculation each term with your updated GPA and credits.
Does this handle retakes that replace a grade?
Not directly. If your school replaces a failed grade on retake, recompute your current GPA with the replacement first, then use that figure here.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.