How to Calculate CGPA From Semester GPAs (With Example)

Quick answer: CGPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hours, where quality points for each semester = semester GPA × credits in that semester. With 3.2 (18 credits), 2.8 (15 credits) and 3.6 (17 credits), your CGPA is 160.8 ÷ 50 = 3.22.

The most common mistake is to add the semester GPAs and divide by the number of semesters. That only works when every semester has exactly the same credits. Because semesters usually have different loads, CGPA is a weighted average. This guide shows the method step by step with a worked example, a table you can copy, and the special cases that trip students up.

The formula

• Quality points (per semester) = Semester GPA × Semester credits
• CGPA = Sum of all quality points ÷ Sum of all credits

Worked example: three semesters

1. Multiply each GPA by its credits (shown in the last column).
2. Add the quality points: 57.6 + 42.0 + 61.2 = 160.8
3. Add the credits: 18 + 15 + 17 = 50
4. Divide: 160.8 ÷ 50 = 3.216, which rounds to 3.22

Why the simple average is wrong

A simple average of the same three GPAs gives (3.2 + 2.8 + 3.6) ÷ 3 = 3.20. That is lower than the correct 3.22 because it treats the 15-credit semester as if it counted as much as the 18-credit one. With bigger differences in credit load, the gap can be 0.1 or more, which can matter for scholarships, honors or a Dean’s List cut-off.

The simple average is only correct when every semester has the same number of credits.

Adding a new semester to an existing CGPA

You do not need to recalculate every semester. Use your current CGPA and total credits:

• New CGPA = (Current CGPA × Credits so far + New SGPA × New credits) ÷ (Credits so far + New credits)

Example: CGPA 3.22 after 50 credits, then a 3.50 semester with 16 credits: (161.0 + 56.0) ÷ 66 = 3.29. To see how far one semester can move you, read how much you can raise your GPA.

Special cases

• Failed courses: an F usually counts as 0 quality points but its credits still count, which pulls the CGPA down. If you retake the course, your university may replace the grade, average both attempts or count both.
• Pass/fail and non-credit courses: usually left out of CGPA completely.
• Transfer credits: often count toward graduation but not toward your CGPA at the new university.
• 10-point scales: the method is the same. Many Indian universities use a 10-point CGPA; to convert it to a percentage see CGPA to percentage (India). For Pakistan, see CGPA to percentage (Pakistan).

Rounding

Keep at least three decimal places while you calculate and round only at the end. Universities differ: some round to two decimals, some truncate (3.216 becomes 3.21). Your official transcript is the final word.

FAQ

Is CGPA the average of SGPAs?

It is a weighted average of SGPAs, weighted by credits. It equals the simple average only when every semester has the same credits. See SGPA vs CGPA for the difference between the two.

What if I do not know my semester credits?

Check your transcript or student portal, which lists credits for each course. Add up the credits of the courses you took in each semester.

Can I calculate CGPA from course grades instead?

Yes. Multiply each course’s grade points by its credits, add them all, and divide by total credits. The GPA & CGPA Calculator does this for you, or read how to calculate GPA with credit hours.

Does a summer semester count?

Usually yes. Treat it as another semester with its own GPA and credits.

Keep it up to date: the Student Study Planner & GPA Tracker calculates your SGPA and CGPA automatically as you add each semester.

Related guides

• SGPA vs CGPA: What’s the Difference and How to Calculate Both
• How to Calculate GPA With Credit Hours (Step-by-Step With Examples)
• How Much Can You Raise Your GPA? A Simple Calculation

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