GPA, or Grade Point Average, is an unfamiliar equation to many students. You might be the first person to really explain what that number means and how to calculate a target GPA for the semester.
Target GPA is for more than just probation students. You can help students set targets for scholarship minimums, program requirements, or just personal goals.
Action Items
- Know where to locate GPA Hours and Quality Points (transcript totals)
- Explain the algebra behind GPA and Target GPA
- Save a copy of the GPA Calculator Tool
What is GPA
The calculation of GPA is not a true average of student grades. Instead, GPA reflects the Quality Points Earned divided by the GPA Hours Completed.
Quality Points ÷ GPA Hours = Grade Point Average
The cumulative GPA is the TOTAL across the institution, and the term GPA are the sub-totals for just that semester.
Quality Points
Students earn points based on the letter grade with F = 0 and an A = 4. The quality points are then multiplied by the number of credits that course carries.
Note: Earning an "A" in a 4-credit lab impacts the GPA more than the same grade in a 1-credit course. The lab will be worth 16 quality points (4x4) while the 1-credit course contributes 4 quality points.
GPA Hours
GPA Hours are the credits we actually use in GPA. Transfer credits are earned but not GPA hours. Same with S/U, W, and Incompletes.
You will see different totals for Earned Hours and GPA Hours because of these non-counting credits. Notice in the transcript example below how the student has 162 GPA hours but 167 Earned Hours. This student likely brought in transfer credits or received an S or S+ last year.
Calculating Target GPA
We need to dig back into our algebra classes when calculating target GPA because we solve for "x" as Quality Points needed that semester.
The question of Target GPA actually asks: how many quality points do we need to earn this semester based on the GPA Hours we are taking.
We already know the student's current GPA Hours, current Quality Points, scheduled GPA hours, and cumulative GPA goal. In our example, the student has earned 29 Points, on 15 Hours, and is taking 12 hours this semester.
How to Calculate Target GPA by Hand
Equation 1
GPA Hours + Term GPA Hours
Add the known GPA Hours to determine how many hours the student will have at the end of the term.
15+12=27 Future GPA Hours
Now we know how many GPA hours will be in our standard calculation at the end of the semester.
Equation 2
Desired GPA*Future GPA Hours
Then multiple the desired GPA by the future GPA hours to know how many quality points are required.
2.0*27 = 54 Quality Points
Double check by dividing 54 Quality Points and 27 GPA hours for a 2.0 GPA.
Now we know how many Quality Points are needed at the end of the semester to equal the target GPA.
Equation 3
Needed Quality Points - Current Quality Points
Now we subtract the needed Quality Points to earn the target GPA from the current amount of Quality Points on the record.
54-29= 25 Quality Points in the Term
Now we know how many quality points the students needs to earn this semester to reach the required total.
Equation 4
Term Quality Points / Term Hours
Last, we calculate the Term GPA by dividing the Term Quality Points needed by the Term Hours scheduled.
25 Quality Points ÷ 12 Hours = 2.08 GPA
Now we know the Target GPA for the semester! If a student earns a 2.08 semester GPA, they will have earned enough quality points to make their cumulative GPA a 2.0.
Calculating this by hand is a lot of work. It is good to understand the math behind the calculation--but we recommend using the Target GPA Calculator tool.
