To some, online courses may seem like a completely different than traditional on campus courses. They are quite similar in everything but the instructional delivery method. One of the most frequently asked questions is "how will my GPA be calculated"?
The answer is simple. Your grade point average is calculated the same way that the traditional on campus students are calculated. Typically, most universities follow a 4.0 scale. What constitutes an A, B, C, D, and F may vary slightly from institution to institution, however.
To calculate your GPA on your own, you will first need to determine your grade points you have earned. This is done by giving yourself 4 points for every A, 3 points for every B, 2 points for every C, 1 point for every D, and 0 points for every F. Pass/Fail courses are generally not factored into a student's GPA. Also, incompletes and withdraws do not have a bearing on GPA.
Next, find the total amount of credit hours you have attempted. A cumulative number of credit hours are typically listed on your previous grade report. You can take this as your starting point and add the number of credit hours you attempted in the current quarter or semester.
Divide the number of grade points by the number of credit hours attempted. This will give you your grade point average. It's as simple as that! Calculating your GPA before a class's drop date can be a great way to determine if dropping a particular class may be more beneficial than taking a substandard grade.
