# What’s a GPA? April 09, 2026 • 7 minutes Written by[Lorie A. Parch](/blog/authors/lorie-parch.html) Reviewed by Devin Andrews, Vice President, Office of Admissions & Evaluation, University of Phoenix Grade point average, or GPA, is the average of all of a student’s course grades, usually calculated according to a 4.0 scale. GPA is taken into account by universities and colleges as part of the admission process, and it’s used to track academic performance in both high school and college. Here’s what to know about this metric. ## What’s a GPA important for? The simplest answer to “what’s a GPA?” is that it’s a means of tracking how a student performs in class. To compute GPA using the classic 4.0 scale, each grade has a numeric value — from 4.0 for an A (90% to 100%) to 0.0 for an F (under 60%). To answer “what’s a GPA?” simply add each value together and divide by the number of courses taken. For example, if a student took five courses and received two A’s (4.0 x 2), two B’s (3.0 x 2) and a C (2.0), the GPA would be 3.2, which is five courses divided into a total of 16. This score is important because most higher education institutions require a minimum GPA for a student to be admitted, and students also need to maintain a minimum GPA to stay enrolled as well as graduate. This is called good academic standing. Though the 4.0 scale is the most common, other GPA scales do exist, including options for “weighted” and “unweighted” GPAs, which are explained later in this article. There are also calculations that award fewer or additional grade points for “minus” and “plus” letter grades, such as A+, B- and so on.  ## Understanding the formula **A GPA:** - Stands for grade point average - Typically measured on a 4.0 scale - Used for admissions, scholarships and academic standing **How to calculate your GPA:** 1. Assign the appropriate GPA score (from 4.0 to 0.0) for each standard grade (A, B, C, D, F) or numeric grade (90 to 100, 80 to 89, etc.) received in each course. An A is four points, a B is three points, a C is two points, a D is one point and an F is zero. 2. Add up the total number of GPA scores for all courses. 3. Divide the total number into the number of courses. This is the GPA. ## Weighted vs. unweighted GPA There’s more than one answer to “what’s a GPA?” That’s because there are also weighted and unweighted GPA scales. These are typically used in high schools rather than colleges. **Unweighted**usually means that the score is calculated based on the standard 4.0 scale described above. This means that all courses are weighted the same, regardless of how difficult each class might be. There are some different unweighted scales, but the 4.0 scale tends to be more commonly used. **Weighted**, on the other hand, takes into account the more demanding work required in advanced placement (AP), honors, and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) classes. How much weight a school gives to advanced classes varies. For example, a high school might give a student an additional 0.5 point for an A grade in an honors class, so that grade would be worth 4.5 when calculating GPA. Or a B grade in an AP class could add 1.0 to the student’s score, so instead of receiving 3.0 for a B on the unweighted scale, the student would receive a 4.0 for that course, which acknowledges the additional rigor required. The bottom line is that answering “what’s a GPA?” in a school that uses a weighted scale will depend on what grade scores the school assigns for advanced courses.  ## What GPA do colleges look at? Colleges and universities often recalculate applicants’ GPAs according to the basic 4.0 scale as a way to standardize scores. This creates a baseline that makes it easier for[admission departments](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/what-are-the-admission-requirements-for-uopx.html)to compare a broad range of applicants. Recalculating GPAs makes sense given the differences in how high schools calculate GPA, how they grade and whether a school offers advanced-level courses — not all do, or they might not offer the same ones. Keep in mind, too, that higher education institutions emphasize the importance of GPA in different ways. Some institutions may prioritize them while others may not require a minimum GPA for admission. Other factors that might affect admission, depending on the institution, could include: - Grades from college-level or college-prep courses - Admission test scores such as ACT and SAT - An interview with the institution - Writing sample, personal statement or essay It’s worth mentioning that more universities and colleges have become “test-optional” in recent years — meaning they[eliminated the need for test scores](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/can-i-go-to-college-without-taking-entrance-exams.html)as part of their admission process. As a result, other factors could play a bigger role at traditional universities that restrict admission. ### What’s a GPA to strive for? There’s no simple answer to what’s considered a “good” GPA. And there’s a difference between high school and college GPAs. In high school, the GPA is important for tracking overall success and whether a student will graduate. Generally speaking, the following breakdown adheres to the unweighted 4.0 scale and gives an idea of how specific GPA ranges are viewed: 3.5 to 4.0: Competitive 3.0 to 3.49: Solid 2.0 to 2.99: Limited options 1.9 and below: Risk of academic probation in college One important caveat to this outline of competitive GPAs is that not all colleges treat the GPA the same way. Some institutions may rely heavily on GPA for admissions; others with open-access admissions may consider different factors and achievements as much or more than a GPA. Meanwhile, what’s considered a good GPA in college, by comparison, is primarily important for maintaining good academic standing and continuing to receive any financial aid or scholarships. If students decide to pursue a master’s or other advanced degree after graduating from college, their GPA may play a role in admission to a graduate- or doctoral-level program. ## What’s a GPA that may indicate a student needs support? What’s a GPA’s importance after a student is admitted to college? Actually, it’s important. Typically, when a college student’s GPA falls below 2.0 (a C average), they may be placed on academic probation (this average may vary depending on program) — a warning that a student may be expelled or academically disqualified if their grades don’t improve. If that student receives Federal Student Aid , they will need to maintain “satisfactory academic progress” as defined by the school to remain eligible for aid. At University of Phoenix, academic probation lasts for four consecutive, completed courses applicable to the program in which a student enrolled. Students who fail to raise their grades within four courses to the minimum GPA for their program will be academically disqualified and withdrawn from the University. Students who are struggling academically or who know they’re at or below the threshold for probation should[reach out for support.](https://www.phoenix.edu/student-resources/overview.html)The sooner one speaks with one’s instructors and an academic advisor to get help, the better. ## Maintaining a high GPA If a student maintains a high GPA, many programs showcase these students on a university president’s or dean’s list. Some may even graduate with honors. The requirements to receive either of these honors may vary from program to program.  ## What’s a GPA that University of Phoenix accepts? What’s a GPA’s importance for admission to University of Phoenix? There is a minimum GPA requirement for master’s level programs (2.5 or 3.0, depending on the program) but not undergraduate degrees. GPA matters, in other words, but so do other factors. University of Phoenix’s open-access approach to education means that everyone, from first-time college students to transfer students to returning alumni, may find a strong support system that can guide them every step of the way. Academic counselors, finance advisors and enrollment representatives provide personalized assistance and answers to questions about admission, applying, fees, programs, transfer credits and more. To learn more about “what’s a GPA’s significance?” at University of Phoenix, visit the[admission requirements](https://www.phoenix.edu/admissions.html)page, or[request more information](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information). Read more articles like this: [What is a Good GMAT Score? | Test Prep Guide University Life February 01, 2022 • 7 minutes](/blog/what-is-a-good-gmat-score.html)[Dissertation Help Workshops University Life September 28, 2022 • 5 Minutes](/blog/dissertation-help-workshops-can-jump-start-your-doctoral.html)[UOPX Faculty Spotlight Brent Smith University Life September 10, 2025 • 4 minutes](/blog/university-of-phoenix-faculty-spotlight-brent-smith.html) ### ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lorie A. Parch is a long-time journalist, editor and content strategist based in Chandler, Arizona. She primarily covers higher education, technology, public safety and lifestyle topics, and for four years led digital content strategy at the California State University Office of the Chancellor. A former Knight Journalism Fellow at the CDC and a National Magazine Award-nominated writer, Lorie's work now focuses on strategic communications and marketing. When she's not buried in a book, she loves traveling, painting and ceramics. ### ABOUT THE REVIEWER Devin Andrews is the vice president of admissions and evaluation at University of Phoenix. She has experience leading University-wide initiatives related to technology and innovation to improve outcomes for diverse stakeholders, including improving the experience for transfer students and increasing credit for prior learning through improved awareness, experience and cost-savings measures for students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Arizona and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Education from University of Phoenix. This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.  [Read more about our editorial process.](/blog/editorial-process.html)