The Standard 4.0 GPA Scale
The 4.0 scale is the most widely used GPA system in the United States. It assigns a numeric value to each letter grade, used to calculate a weighted average based on course credits.
WhatGPA
GPA Scale
The complete reference for converting letter grades, percentages, and GPA points across standard and weighted scales.
Quick Answer
The standard US GPA scale runs from 0.0 to 4.0. A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0. Minus grades subtract 0.3 (A− = 3.7) and plus grades add 0.3 (B+ = 3.3). A weighted scale can exceed 4.0 for AP and Honors courses — up to 5.0.
| Letter | Percentage | 4.0 Scale | Honors +0.5 | AP/IB +1.0 | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | Excellent |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | Excellent |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 | Good |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | Good |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 | Good |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | Average |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | Average |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 | Average |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | Below Avg |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | Below Avg |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | Below Avg |
| F | 0–59% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | Failing |
Ad
How GPA Scale Varies by State and Institution
The 4.0 scale is standard, but several important variations exist:
- Plus/minus grading: Some schools only use A, B, C, D, F — no +/− modifiers. This can inflate or deflate GPAs depending on how grades cluster.
- Weighted scale maximums: Schools using a 5.0 scale vs. schools that cap at 4.0 weighted produce incomparable GPAs.
- College-specific recalculation: Most four-year colleges recalculate applicant GPAs using their own formula, often stripping weights.
- International conversions: The U.S. 4.0 scale doesn't map directly to UK, Canadian, or European grading systems.
Key GPA Benchmarks
- 4.0 — Perfect unweighted GPA (all A's)
- 3.9+ — Summa Cum Laude at most universities
- 3.7+ — Magna Cum Laude; competitive for most graduate programs
- 3.5+ — Cum Laude; Dean's List eligibility at most schools
- 3.0 — Minimum for many graduate program applications
- 2.0 — Minimum to maintain good academic standing at most colleges