Michigan State University GPA Calculator
Michigan State doesn't use letter grades. Every course is graded 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5, 1.0 or 0.0, and that number is the grade point. Enter your courses below for your semester and cumulative GPA, then see how MSU's repeat rule, Dean's List and graduation honors work.
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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MSU's Numerical Grades
MSU grades on an eight-step numerical scale, and the number on your transcript is the grade point, so there is nothing to convert. Grade points for a course are the grade multiplied by the credits.
| Grade | Grade points per credit | Credit earned? |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 4.0 | Yes |
| 3.5 | 3.5 | Yes |
| 3.0 | 3.0 | Yes |
| 2.5 | 2.5 | Yes |
| 2.0 | 2.0 | Yes (graduate minimum) |
| 1.5 | 1.5 | Yes |
| 1.0 | 1.0 | Yes (undergraduate minimum) |
| 0.0 | 0.0 | No |
Undergraduates earn credit with a 1.0 or higher; graduate students need a 2.0. All numerical grades count in the GPA, even ones that earn no credit. The university truncates the GPA to three decimal places rather than rounding it.
Example semester: 4 credits of 3.5 (14.0), 3 of 4.0 (12.0), 3 of 2.5 (7.5) and 3 of 3.0 (9.0) give 42.5 ÷ 13 = 3.2692, recorded as 3.269.
Converting MSU Grades to Letters
MSU publishes no official letter equivalents. If a scholarship or graduate application asks for letters, give the numerical grades and your GPA as MSU reports them, since your transcript key explains the scale. Your MSU GPA is already on a 4.0 scale, so it doesn't need conversion for most applications.
Credit-No Credit: Up to 20 Credits
The CR-NC option lets you take courses outside your major without risking your GPA. You are still graded numerically, and the registrar converts the result:
- CR requires performance at the 2.0 level or better for undergraduates (3.0 for graduate students).
- Below that you get NC and no credit.
- Neither CR nor NC counts in your GPA.
Undergraduates may take no more than 20 credits on CR-NC. It can't be used for Tier I or Tier II writing, the university math requirement or Integrative Studies, and you must choose it by the midpoint of the class. Note the gap: a 1.0 or 1.5 earns credit on the numerical system but becomes NC under CR-NC.
Repeating a Course: The Last Grade Replaces the First
Undergraduates can repeat a course whatever the previous grade, up to two repeats (three total enrollments) and a maximum of 20 repeated credits. The last grade completely replaces the earlier one in your cumulative GPA, even if it is lower. Every attempt stays on your permanent record.
Two limits matter:
- A course you took for CR or P can't be repeated for credit, and a repeat must use the same grading system as the first attempt.
- Your college's associate dean normally puts you on warning for repeats after 10 to 14 repeated credits.
To model a repeat, enter only the new grade in the calculator.
Dean's List: 3.50 on 12 Numerical Credits
You make the Dean's List with a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher on at least 12 credits graded on the numerical system. CR-NC and P-N credits don't count toward the 12. The designation appears on your official transcript.
Graduation With Honor: The Cutoff Moves
MSU honors roughly the top 20 percent of graduates, and the GPA cutoffs are reset after each spring semester to keep that share. For recent and upcoming terms:
| Graduating in | With High Honor (top 6%) | With Honor (top 7–20%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.95 | 3.81 |
| 2024 | 3.97 | 3.88 |
| 2025 | 3.98 | 3.89 |
| 2026 | 3.98 | 3.88 |
| Spring–Fall 2027 | 3.98 | 3.88 |
Honors use your whole MSU record, truncated to two decimals, so a 3.879 is a 3.87 and misses With Honor. Transfer students need at least 50 MSU credits. The commencement program uses your GPA from before your final semester, but the transcript and diploma reflect your final GPA, which can add or remove honors.
Probation, Final Probation and Recess
A cumulative GPA below 2.00 after any semester puts you on probation, which MSU treats as a warning. What happens next depends on the following semester:
| At the end of the next semester | Result |
|---|---|
| Cumulative GPA 2.00 or higher | Back to good standing |
| Cumulative below 2.00, semester GPA 2.00 or higher (1.5 with fewer than 30 MSU credits) | Final probation |
| Cumulative below 2.00 and semester GPA below that bar | Recess |
At the end of final probation your cumulative GPA must reach 2.00 or you are recessed. A semester of all 0.0 or I grades with at least 6 credits of 0.0 also brings a recess. A recessed student must stay out of MSU for at least one calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 3.5 at MSU in letter grades?
MSU has no official letter equivalents. A 3.5 is simply 3.5 grade points per credit on MSU's numerical scale.
What is the lowest passing grade at Michigan State?
A 1.0 for undergraduates and a 2.0 for graduate students. A 0.0 earns no credit, but every numerical grade counts in the GPA.
If I retake a class at MSU, which grade counts?
The last grade completely replaces the earlier one in your GPA, even if it is lower. You can repeat up to 20 credits, with at most three enrollments in a course.
What GPA is the Dean's List at MSU?
A 3.50 semester GPA on at least 12 credits graded on the numerical system.
What GPA do you need to graduate with honor at MSU?
For 2026 and 2027 graduates, 3.88 for With Honor and 3.98 for With High Honor. The cutoffs are reset each year to honor about the top 20 percent.
Sources: Michigan State University Office of the Registrar: Grading Systems, Calculations of Credits and Grade-Point Averages, Repeating a Course, Scholastic Honors, Graduation Honors and Academic Standing of Undergraduate Students. Policies change, so check the current catalog. This site is independent and not affiliated with Michigan State University.