UC/CSU GPA Calculator

The University of California and California State University each calculate their own "a-g" GPA, which is often different from the GPA on your transcript. Choose a system, enter how many semester grades you earned at each letter, and your GPA updates as you type. One caveat is that Cal Poly SLO includes a-g courses in the calculation from 9th grade.

What are A-G courses?

A-G refers to the set of high school courses the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) require for admission. Students must complete at least 15 year-long courses across seven subject areas, earning a C or better in each:

  • A: History/Social Science, 2 years
  • B: English, 4 years
  • C: Mathematics, 3 years (4 recommended)
  • D: Science, 2 years (3 recommended)
  • E: Language Other Than English, 2 years (3 recommended)
  • F: Visual and Performing Arts, 1 year
  • G: College-Preparatory Elective, 1 year

A course only counts toward A-G if UC has approved it for your specific high school. A class with the same name at another school, or one that "sounds" college prep, does not automatically qualify.

How to verify your courses

  1. Go to the UC A-G Course List: hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist
  2. Search for your high school by name and city.
  3. Select the academic year you took (or will take) the course. Approvals are year-specific, so check the year that matches your transcript.
  4. Find each course under its subject area (A through G) and confirm it appears there.
  5. If you took a class somewhere else, such as an online program, summer school, or a community college, look up that provider's list or confirm the college course is UC-transferable.

Why Some "Honors" Classes Don't Count as Honors for the UC/CSU GPA

Many high schools label classes as "Honors" and give them an extra grade point on the school transcript. The UC/CSU systems do not automatically accept that label. When they calculate your GPA, they only give an extra point to courses they recognize as honors level:

  • AP courses
  • IB Higher Level courses and designated IB Standard Level courses
  • UC-transferable college courses
  • School honors courses that UC has certified, which appear with an honors designation on your school's A-G Course List

How to check: On your school's A-G Course List, look for the honors designation next to the course name. If it isn't there, the class won't receive the extra point in your UC GPA, even if your school weights it.

The good news: A rigorous schedule still matters. UC readers see all of your courses in their comprehensive review, so a challenging honors class demonstrates effort and preparation even if it doesn't raise the calculated GPA.

 

Grade Semester grades Points each Points
A 4 0
B 3 0
C 2 0
D 1 0
F 0 0
Honors semestersAP, IB, UC-approved honors, and college courses with a C or better. Up to 8 count, no more than 4 from 10th grade.
10th grade
11th grade
Total 0 0

How to calculate your UC GPA

  1. Gather your 10th and 11th grade "a-g" courses. UC uses courses completed from the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade. Courses from 9th and 12th grade must still meet the "a-g" requirements, but they are not part of the GPA.
  2. Count your semester grades. Every semester grade counts on its own, so a year-long course gives you two grades. Ignore pluses and minuses: a B+ and a B- both count as a B. Leave out Pass/No Pass and Credit/No Credit grades.
  3. Count college courses once. Enter each UC-transferable college "a-g" course as a single grade, even if it satisfies a full year of a subject requirement. A B in a community college psychology course counts as one B. A college course with a C or better also earns one honors point, within the 8-semester cap.
  4. Handle repeated courses. If you repeated a course to replace a D or F, count only the new grade.
  5. Count your honors semesters. Count each semester of AP, IB, UC-approved honors, or UC-transferable college coursework in 10th or 11th grade where you earned a C or better. These grades are already in your A, B, and C totals; honors semesters only add bonus points on top.
  6. Apply the honors cap. For the capped weighted GPA, UC adds 1 bonus point for up to 8 honors semesters, and no more than 4 of them can come from 10th grade.
  7. Divide. Add up your grade points (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0), add your honors points, and divide by the total number of semester grades.

The three UC GPAs: The unweighted GPA uses no honors points. The capped weighted GPA applies the 8-semester limit and is the one UC uses for minimum eligibility (3.00 for California residents, 3.40 for nonresidents, with no grade lower than a C in "a-g" courses). The fully weighted GPA adds a point for every honors semester with no cap; many campuses look at it during review.

Example: 14 A's, 6 B's, and 2 C's make 22 grades worth 78 points (56 + 18 + 4). The unweighted GPA is 78 ÷ 22 = 3.54 (UC does not round, so 3.545 becomes 3.54). With 2 honors semesters in 10th grade and 4 in 11th, add 6 points: 84 ÷ 22 = 3.81 capped weighted.

This calculator gives an estimate for planning purposes. Your official GPA is calculated by UC and CSU from the courses on your school's approved "a-g" list and the grades you report on your application. Calculator provided by Balanced College Planning.