UC GPA Calculator
Enter each a–g course from 10th and 11th grade to compute your UC unweighted, capped weighted, and fully weighted GPA using UC's own honors bonus rules.
How the UC GPA is calculated
- Include only a–g approved courses from 10th–11th grade (plus summer sessions before 10th, after 10th, and after 11th). 9th and 12th grade coursework is not used.
- Convert letter grades: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Pluses and minuses are ignored.
- Add +1 honor point per semester of UC-approved honors / AP / IB HL / transferable college courses. D or F earn no bonus.
- Fully weighted GPA = (total grade points + all honor points) ÷ semesters.
- Capped weighted GPA = same formula but honor points capped at 8 semesters (the number UC uses for admissions review).
Formula
UC GPA = (Σ base points + honor bonus) ÷ semesters · capped weighted caps the bonus at 8 semesters
Example
6 A's and 2 B's across 8 UC-approved semesters, 3 AP semesters → (24+6+3) ÷ 8 = 4.13 capped weighted
Terminology
- GPA
- Grade Point Average for a single term, computed from letter grades and credit hours.
- CGPA
- Cumulative GPA — a credit-weighted average of every semester you've completed.
Which UC GPA matters for admission?
UC campuses use the capped weighted GPA when evaluating applicants for freshman admission, and the minimum eligibility floor is 3.0 for California residents (3.4 for non-residents). Highly selective campuses (Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego, Irvine) admit classes whose capped weighted GPAs typically sit well above 4.0. Always confirm the current requirement on the official UC admissions site.
FAQ
- Do all honors classes qualify for the +1 bonus?
- Only courses listed on your school's UC-approved a–g course list as “honors” count. AP and IB HL courses always qualify. Some IB SL and college transfer courses qualify too — check your school's list.
- Why is my capped GPA lower than my school's weighted GPA?
- Most high schools weight every honors/AP/IB semester without a cap. UC caps the bonus at 8 semesters, so heavy AP loads compute lower under UC's formula.
- Are plus and minus grades used?
- No. UC treats A+, A, and A− all as 4.0, and the same collapsing applies to B, C, and D.
This tool follows the University of California's published GPA rules but is not affiliated with UC. Always use your UC application worksheet as the official source.