By Loren Germann-McClain
Senior Academic Advisor II, School of STEM
Understanding how your grade point average (GPA) is calculated is the first step to understanding your academic status. Your GPA is calculated based on a 4.0 scale with each letter grade having a quality point:
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.67
- B+ = 3.33
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.67
- C+ = 2.33
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.67
- D+ = 1.33
- D = 1.0
- D- = 0.67
- F = 0.0
The APUS student handbook includes a chart for your grades, GPA values and how the system fits within the 100% scale. All accumulated grades are divided by the number of course credits to create your grade average on the 4.0 scale.
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Failed courses that are retaken and successfully passed are no longer counted in your GPA. Only the successful passing grade for the class you retook is factored into your GPA, as the failed grade “falls off.” Retaking failed courses as soon as possible is a great way to rehabilitate your GPA.
Locating Your GPA
Your GPA can be found within your ecampus by navigating to your Academic Plan within the “Academic Plan & Forms” menu. If you are interested in seeing what your GPA would be with a certain grade — for example, if you are currently at a 3.3 GPA but would like to have a 3.5 GPA — you can use the GPA Calculator to determine what grades are needed in your classes to meet this goal.
Using the GPA Calculator
To access the GPA Calculator, hover over the “Student Services” menu. Under “Student Success” on the far left, click on “Academic Advising,” which will route you to a new page. Scroll to the bottom, and on the right-hand side under “Academic Advising Resources,” click on “GPA Calculator.”
Within the calculator, you do not need to enter one grade per line. Count up the semester hours that you have taken that correspond with one grade.
For example, if you have 12 semester hours of “A” grades, you would enter 12 under “Credit Hours” and “A” under “Grade.” The calculator will automatically generate your total Credit Hours, Grade Points, and GPA in the blue box at the bottom every time you add a new row of hours and grades.
If you would like a visual aid in navigating the GPA Calculator, you can view this resource in the Success Center; please keep in mind you must be logged into your AMU or APU ecampus to view the Success Center resources.
Academic Risk and Probation
If your GPA falls below a certain level — 2.0 for undergraduate students or a 3.0 for graduate students— you will be notified that you are on Academic Risk or Academic Probation status. The intent of Academic Risk and Probation is to provide you the opportunity to raise your cumulative GPA to minimum levels so that you may continue to pursue your academic goals.
Being placed on academic risk does not impact your registration in any of your current courses. You will be limited to part-time registrations for your future registrations, so you will need to discuss your options with your funding source as your eligibility for financial aid may be affected.
If you are placed on academic probation, that will impact your current and future course registrations; it will limit any future registrations to part-time registration. All future course registrations will be dropped and if you are in the first week of your current course(s), you will be dropped.
You will need to discuss your options with both your academic advisor and your funding source as your eligibility for financial aid may be impacted, just like if you’re on academic risk status. Your academic advisor may be able to assist you with re-registering for courses.
If you have questions about your GPA or how to calculate it, please do not hesitate to reach out to your academic advising team. We are happy to review your academic plan and grades with you and answer any questions or concerns you may have to help you achieve your goals.
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