Columbia University GPA Calculator
Columbia College counts an A+ as 4.33, so your GPA can go above 4.0. Enter your courses and points below for your semester and cumulative GPA, then see how Pass/D/Fail, the Dean's List and Latin honors work at Columbia.
Your Academic Results
Term / Semester GPA
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Cumulative GPA
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Credits This Term
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Total Graded Credits
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Columbia's Grade Scale: Why a GPA Can Go Above 4.0
Columbia College counts an A+ as 4.33, a third of a point above an A. That means a Columbia GPA can exceed 4.00, which surprises students coming from high schools or universities where A+ and A are worth the same. The calculator above uses the Columbia College values:
| Grade | Points | Columbia's description |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.33 | Excellent |
| A | 4.00 | |
| A- | 3.67 | |
| B+ | 3.33 | Good |
| B | 3.00 | |
| B- | 2.67 | |
| C+ | 2.33 | Fair |
| C | 2.00 | |
| C- | 1.67 | |
| D | 1.00 | Poor but passing |
| F | 0.00 | Failure |
There is no D+ or D- at Columbia College; plus and minus stop at C-. These values are Columbia College's. Columbia Engineering, the School of General Studies and Barnard each publish their own regulations, so check your school's bulletin if you are not in the College.
How Columbia Calculates Your GPA
Columbia measures credit in points, its word for credits. Each course's grade value is multiplied by the points it carries, and the total is divided by the letter-graded points you took.
GPA = sum of (grade value × points) ÷ letter-graded points
An example semester of 15 points:
- Literature Humanities, 4 points, A: 4 × 4.00 = 16.00
- Calculus, 3 points, A+: 3 × 4.33 = 12.99
- Economics, 4 points, B+: 4 × 3.33 = 13.32
- Language course, 4 points, A-: 4 × 3.67 = 14.68
Total: 56.99 ÷ 15 = 3.80. That is above the 3.6 Dean's List line, provided there are no D, F or W grades that term.
What Stays Out of Your Columbia GPA
- P (Pass) from the Pass/D/Fail option is not included in the GPA.
- W (Withdrawal) earns no points and does not count in the GPA, but it stays on the transcript permanently, even if you later retake the course.
- R (registration only, similar to an audit) earns no credit and is not factored in.
- YC (year course) and IN (incomplete) are temporary marks until a final grade is recorded.
Pass/D/Fail: The Catch With D and F
Columbia College lets you take one course Pass/D/Fail in the fall and one in the spring, usually electives. It cannot be used for Core Curriculum courses, and for the most part not for your major or minor.
The name describes the rule: only a grade of C- or higher becomes a P. A D or F is recorded as a D or F and counts in your GPA like any other grade. The Pass/D/Fail option protects a mediocre grade, not a failing one. You can uncover the letter grade until the end of the Change of Program period of the following semester.
Limits on D Grades
A D is passing, but its credit is capped. No more than 6 points of D credit per academic year, and no more than 12 points in total, can count toward the degree. In general a D does not count toward a major or minor, and a D in any course rules out the Dean's List for that term.
Dean's List at Columbia College
You make the Dean's List with a term GPA of 3.6 or higher in 12 or more points of letter-graded credit. Several things disqualify you that term even with a high GPA:
- any grade of D, F or W;
- a YC (year course) mark, until the full-year grade is posted;
- an IN (incomplete), unless the Committee on Academic Standing approved it in advance; eligibility is decided once it becomes a letter grade;
- an active sanction for an academic integrity violation.
Because Pass/D/Fail credit is not letter-graded, a 15-point term with a 3-point P/D/F elective leaves exactly 12 letter-graded points, which is just enough.
Latin Honors: Top 25 Percent, No Fixed Cutoff
Columbia College awards Latin honors to the top 25 percent of the graduating class by cumulative GPA for all work at Columbia:
- Summa cum laude: top 5 percent
- Magna cum laude: next 10 percent
- Cum laude: next 10 percent
There is no preset GPA, because the cutoffs depend on how the class performs. Senior spring grades count, and academic and disciplinary standing are also considered. Honors are decided after final grades are in, so they are announced after Commencement.
Good Academic Standing and Probation
To stay in good academic standing in the College, each term you need to:
- complete at least 12 points of credit;
- earn a term GPA of at least 2.0;
- keep a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
- make progress in the Core Curriculum and your declared major.
Falling short on any of these, or failing a Core course, can lead to academic probation. Students who do not improve while on probation may be suspended for at least a year, and suspension or dismissal is recorded on the transcript. Use the calculator's cumulative fields to see what term GPA restores a 2.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an A+ worth more than an A at Columbia?
Yes. Columbia College counts an A+ as 4.33 and an A as 4.00, so a GPA above 4.0 is possible.
What GPA do you need for the Dean's List at Columbia?
A term GPA of 3.6 or higher in at least 12 points of letter-graded credit, with no D, F or W grades that term.
Does a Pass/D/Fail class affect my Columbia GPA?
A grade of C- or higher becomes a P and is left out of the GPA. A D or F stays on the record as a letter grade and does count in the GPA.
What GPA is summa cum laude at Columbia?
There is no fixed number. Summa cum laude goes to the top 5 percent of the graduating class by cumulative GPA, so the cutoff changes each year.
What is the minimum GPA to stay in good standing at Columbia College?
A term GPA and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, along with at least 12 points completed each term.
Sources: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations; Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Honors. Rules shown are Columbia College's; other Columbia schools differ. Policies change, so check the current bulletin. This site is independent and not affiliated with Columbia University.