Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA: What's the Difference?

If you've seen two different GPA numbers for the same grades, you're not losing it - you're looking at weighted vs. unweighted GPA. They measure different things.

Unweighted GPA

An unweighted GPA puts every class on the same 4.0 scale, no matter how hard it is. An A is 4.0 whether it's in gym or AP Calculus.

• Simple and consistent
• Maxes out at 4.0
• Doesn't reward harder course loads

Weighted GPA

A weighted GPA gives extra points for more demanding classes. A common high-school version adds points for Honors and AP courses, so an A in AP Calc might be worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. In college, "weighted" usually means weighted by credit hours - a 4-credit class counts more than a 1-credit elective.

• Reflects course difficulty or course load
• Can exceed 4.0 (in the AP/Honors style)
• The version colleges use semester to semester

Which one matters?

It depends on who's asking:

• College admissions often recalculate GPA their own way, so they look at your transcript and course rigor, not just the number.
• Your college GPA is virtually always credit-weighted. That's the one on your transcript and the one this site's GPA Calculator computes.

The takeaway

Don't stress about having two numbers - just know which one you're being asked for. For college, assume credit-weighted. To see how each class pulls your average up or down, try the GPA Calculator, and to keep both your term and cumulative GPA current automatically, use the MyGrades app.