Yale University GPA Calculator
Yale College counts courses in course credits (most courses are 1 credit, some 0.5 or 1.5) rather than semester hours, and grades A through F with no A+. Enter each course's credits and grade below for your term and cumulative GPA, then see how Credit/D/Fail, repeats, General Honors and academic standing work.
Your Academic Results
Term / Semester GPA
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Cumulative GPA
0.00
Credits This Term
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Total Graded Credits
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Yale's Letter Grade Values
| Grade | Value | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | C | 2.00 |
| A- | 3.67 | C- | 1.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 | D+ | 1.33 |
| B | 3.00 | D | 1.00 |
| B- | 2.67 | D- | 0.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 | F | 0.00 |
Yale gives no A+. Most courses carry one course credit, and a Yale degree needs 36. Because nearly every course weighs the same, your GPA is close to a simple average of your grades.
Example term: four 1-credit courses with A, A-, B+ and A (4.00 + 3.67 + 3.33 + 4.00) plus a 0.5-credit course with a B (1.50) give 16.50 ÷ 4.5 = 3.67.
Credit/D/Fail: Six Credits, With Deadlines
Instructors always report a letter grade. If you chose Credit/D/Fail, the registrar turns A through C- into CR, which doesn't count in your GPA, but a D+, D, D- or F stays on your transcript as the letter and does count.
- You can convert up to six credits in total, and at most two per term.
- Two of those expire if you don't use them in your first two terms; after that you can convert no more than four.
- A course where you earn D+ or lower under the option doesn't use up your limit.
- You can choose Credit/D/Fail up to the last day of classes, but the choice can't be reversed.
- CR can't satisfy distributional requirements, except for earlier courses in the L1–L5 language sequence.
Watch out: CR counts as a non-A grade for Phi Beta Kappa and Distinction in the Major, though it's left out of the General Honors GPA.
Repeating a Course: Both Grades Count
Most Yale courses can't be repeated for credit. If you do take the same or an equivalent course twice, both grades appear on your transcript, you receive credit once (for the higher grade), and both grades are included in your GPA and in the General Honors calculation. A retake never removes a bad grade. In the calculator, enter both attempts.
General Honors (Latin Honors)
| Honor | Share of graduating class |
|---|---|
| Summa cum laude | No more than the top 5% |
| Magna cum laude | No more than the next 10% |
| Cum laude | No more than the next 15% |
No more than 30 percent of the class receives General Honors, based on the GPA from courses taken only at Yale. Yale sets these by rank in the class, not by a fixed GPA. Distinction in the Major is awarded separately on your department's nomination, and Phi Beta Kappa election depends on the percentage of A grades you earned at Yale.
Academic Good Standing
Yale's standing rules are based on credits earned, not on a minimum GPA:
| End of term | Minimum course credits |
|---|---|
| 1st | 4 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 12 |
| 4th | 16 |
| 5th | 21 |
| 6th | 26 |
| 7th | 31 |
Regardless of credits, you're not in good standing if you receive three F grades in one term or across two or three successive terms. Each term you must take at least two courses for letter grades or Pass/Fail. An incomplete not repaired in time becomes NM (no mark).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Yale give A+ grades?
No. The highest Yale College grade is an A, worth 4.00.
How many Credit/D/Fail courses can I take at Yale?
Up to six credits, at most two per term. Two expire if unused in your first two terms, and a D+ or lower doesn't count against the limit.
If I retake a course at Yale, which grade counts?
Both grades count in your GPA and in the General Honors calculation, although you receive credit only once.
What GPA do you need for summa cum laude at Yale?
There's no fixed GPA. Summa goes to no more than the top 5 percent of the class by Yale GPA, magna to the next 10 percent and cum laude to the next 15 percent.
Does Yale have a Dean's List or GPA probation?
Yale's standing rules are based on course credits earned and on F grades (three F's in a term or successive terms), not a minimum GPA.
Sources: Yale College Programs of Study: Grades, Registration and Enrollment in Courses, Promotion and Good Standing and Honors. Policies change, so check the current catalog. This site is independent and not affiliated with Yale University.