University of Kansas GPA Calculator
KU's scale tops out at A (4.0), with minus grades worth three tenths (A- = 3.7). Enter your courses below for your semester and cumulative GPA, then see how KU's keep-the-higher-grade retake rule and Credit/No Credit 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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KU's Grade Scale: No A+, and One-Decimal Minus Grades
The University of Kansas grades on a plus/minus scale that stops at A: there is no A+, so a KU GPA cannot exceed 4.0. Plus and minus grades are worth three tenths, which means an A- is 3.7 rather than the 3.67 many generic calculators assume.
| Grade | + | Plain | − |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | — | 4.0 | 3.7 |
| B | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| C | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| D | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| F | — | 0.0 | — |
How KU Calculates Your GPA
KU divides the grade points you earned by the credit hours attempted and graded A through F. Grade points for a course are its credit hours multiplied by the grade value.
GPA = grade points ÷ hours graded A–F
Example semester of 15 hours: a 4-hour chemistry course at B+ (13.2), a 3-hour math course at A- (11.1), a 3-hour history course at A (12.0), a 3-hour writing course at B (9.0) and a 2-hour lab at A (8.0). That comes to 53.3 ÷ 15 = 3.55.
Grades That Don't Count
- CR / NC (Credit / No Credit): a CR means C- or better and an NC means below C-. Neither affects your GPA. You may use the option for at most one course per semester, and you must choose it within a set window early in the term (the 21st to 30th instructional days for a semester-long course). It generally cannot be used for your major or minor.
- W (Withdrew): no credit and no grade points.
- I (Incomplete): no grade points until resolved. The work must be finished by the date your instructor sets, no later than one calendar year from the original grade due date.
- S / U: used in some designated courses instead of letter grades.
Grade Replacement: KU Keeps the Higher Grade
KU's repeat policy is unusually student-friendly. When you retake a course at KU, the higher of the two grades counts in your GPA, whichever attempt it came from. Both attempts stay on the transcript, but the lower grade is left out of the GPA. A worse second attempt cannot hurt you.
The limits:
- Five replacements in total. You can repeat five different courses once, or use several of the five on one course. Every repeat uses one, even if the new grade is lower.
- You must retake the same course (department, number and credit hours) at KU, numbered 000–699.
- You can replace any grade from A- down to F, but an A cannot be replaced.
- A grade lowered as a sanction for academic misconduct cannot be replaced, and courses already used for a completed KU bachelor's degree cannot be replaced.
- Since Fall 2021 the replacement applies automatically to eligible courses.
To see the effect in the calculator, enter only the higher grade for the repeated course.
Honor Roll: Set by Each School
KU publishes an honor roll each fall and spring, but each school sets its own criteria. For example, the School of Architecture & Design requires a semester GPA of 3.75 or higher in 15 or more hours graded A–F. Check your own school's rule, and remember that CR/NC hours don't count toward the graded-hours minimum.
Graduating With Distinction
KU's College and schools can award degrees "with distinction" and "with highest distinction", but university rules cap them at no more than 10 percent of the graduating class of the College or a school. Because it is a share of the class rather than a fixed GPA, the cutoff varies by school and by year.
Probation and Dismissal
Under KU's University Senate rules, retention, probation, dismissal and reinstatement standards are set by the College and each school rather than university-wide. The GPA that triggers probation and the term GPA you need to return to good standing therefore depend on your school, so check with your dean's office or adviser for the rule that applies to you.
Academic Forgiveness After Time Away
Students who come back after a break can ask to have past semesters removed from the GPA. The conditions, all of which must be met:
- a break of at least two years from KU;
- a KU cumulative GPA below 2.5 before the break;
- a KU GPA of at least 2.5 since returning, on at least 12 hours.
You can designate up to four earlier terms. Their grades stay on the transcript but no longer count in your KU GPA, and they can no longer satisfy degree requirements. The request goes through the University Registrar with your dean's approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KU have an A+?
No. The KU scale tops out at A (4.0), and an A- is worth 3.7.
If I retake a class at KU, which grade counts?
The higher of the two grades counts in your GPA. You can use grade replacement five times in total, and an A cannot be replaced.
Does Credit/No Credit affect my KU GPA?
No. CR (C- or better) and NC are left out of the GPA. You can take at most one course Credit/No Credit per semester.
What GPA do you need for the KU honor roll?
It depends on your school, because each KU school sets its own honor roll criteria. Architecture & Design, for example, requires a 3.75 in 15 or more A–F hours.
Can old semesters be removed from my KU GPA?
Through academic forgiveness, yes: after a break of at least two years, with a GPA below 2.5 before the break and at least 2.5 on 12 or more hours since returning, you can ask to discount up to four earlier terms.
Sources: KU University Senate Rules and Regulations (grading, credit/no credit, grade replacement, academic forgiveness, distinction); KU Registrar, Grades; KU School of Architecture & Design, Honor Roll. Policies change, so check the current rules. This site is independent and not affiliated with the University of Kansas.