Table of Contents
How FSU Calculates GPA
Florida State assigns quality points for each credit hour, then divides total quality points by the credit hours attached to GPA-bearing grades. A three-credit A is worth 12.00 quality points, while a three-credit B+ is worth 9.75.
Quick answer: FSU’s standard scale is not the common 4.0 scale where B+ is 3.3 and A- is 3.7. At FSU, B+ is 3.25 and A- is 3.75.
| Grade | Quality points per credit hour |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.75 |
| B+ | 3.25 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.75 |
| C+ | 2.25 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.75 |
| D+ | 1.25 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.75 |
| F | 0.00 |
Worked example
Suppose you complete two three-credit classes: an A and a B+. The A earns 12.00 quality points and the B+ earns 9.75, for 21.75 total quality points across six GPA hours. Your GPA for those courses is 21.75 / 6 = 3.625.
Which FSU Grades Count in GPA?
An F counts as 0.00 quality points, but its credit hours still count in the GPA denominator. That makes an F different from a non-GPA mark that contributes neither quality points nor GPA hours.
| Mark | GPA treatment |
|---|---|
| F | Counts at 0.00 points; credit hours count |
| IE | Expired incomplete; 0.00 quality points |
| GE | Expired no-grade; 0.00 quality points |
| P | Excluded from GPA |
| S / U | Excluded from GPA |
| I / NG | Temporary; excluded until resolved |
| W / WD | Excluded from GPA |
| EC / ED | Examination credit; excluded from GPA |
FSU permits eligible undergraduates to take limited coursework on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. An S can count toward applicable credit requirements without entering GPA; the calculator therefore does not assign S or U a numerical grade-point value.
Repeating a Course at Florida State
Important: FSU discontinued its forgiveness policy effective Fall 2004. For ordinary current-policy repeats of courses in which a student earned D or F, both the original grade and the repeat grade are used in GPA.
That means a repeat is not a simple replacement calculation. If you earned an F in a three-credit course and later earned a B in the same three-credit course, enter both attempts as completed courses when estimating your FSU cumulative GPA. Graduation credit generally applies only once for a non-repeatable course even though both grades affect GPA.
The calculator’s replacement-style Repeat Impact tool is intentionally unavailable for FSU because it would model the wrong policy.
Transfer Credit and the FSU Cumulative GPA
FSU distinguishes its FSU cumulative GPA, transfer GPA, and combined overall GPA on the transcript. Grades earned at another institution cannot be used to improve the FSU GPA or erase an FSU quality-point deficiency.
Calculator scope: Use this calculator for the FSU cumulative GPA. Do not add transfer or dual-enrollment grades as though they were FSU courses when calculating that number. For a combined overall GPA or a decision that uses all college work, use the GPA shown on your official FSU record and the policy for that specific purpose.
Law, Medicine, and Graduate Records
The standard undergraduate scale should not be applied blindly to every FSU program. The College of Law uses a separate scale that includes A+ = 4.33 and third-point plus/minus values. The College of Medicine uses separate marks including HM, HP, and PM.
Graduate records also require care because approved graduate coursework can sometimes be excluded from the graduate GPA. This calculator therefore focuses on the standard undergraduate FSU cumulative GPA rather than attempting to automate those separate academic records.
GPA Requirements Students Commonly Ask About
Different FSU policies use different GPA definitions, so the same number should not be treated as a universal cutoff.
| Purpose | Verified GPA rule |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate good standing | At least 2.0 FSU cumulative GPA |
| Undergraduate graduation | At least 2.0 FSU cumulative GPA |
| Financial-aid SAP | At least 2.0 cumulative GPA, plus completion-rate and timeframe rules |
| Dean’s List | 3.5 term GPA with at least 12 letter-graded credits |
| President’s List | 4.0 term GPA with at least 12 letter-graded credits |
| Cum laude | Both FSU cumulative and combined cumulative GPA at least 3.500 |
| Magna cum laude | Both at least 3.700 |
| Summa cum laude | Both at least 3.900 |
These rules serve different purposes. A calculator estimate does not determine academic standing, financial-aid eligibility, honors, or graduation clearance.
How to Use the FSU GPA Calculator
Enter your previous FSU cumulative GPA and its matching GPA-bearing credit hours if you want a cumulative projection. Add completed FSU courses with their credit hours and final grades. Open Planned Courses to test future grades, or use the target tool to see the average you would need over a chosen number of future credits.
If you are starting from scratch, you can leave the previous-GPA fields blank and enter only the FSU courses you want to calculate. Keep transfer coursework out of the standard FSU cumulative calculation.
Florida State GPA FAQs
Is an A- a 3.7 at FSU?
No. On the standard FSU scale, an A- is 3.75 quality points per credit hour.
Is a B+ a 3.3 at Florida State?
No. FSU assigns a B+ 3.25 quality points per credit hour on the standard scale.
Does Florida State replace a bad grade when I repeat a class?
Not under the current general forgiveness policy. FSU discontinued grade forgiveness effective Fall 2004, and both grades generally enter GPA for ordinary D/F repeats.
Does an F count in my FSU GPA?
Yes. An F earns zero quality points, and the course’s GPA-bearing credit hours remain in the denominator.
Do S/U grades affect FSU GPA?
S and U do not receive GPA quality points. An S may still earn applicable course credit, so credit progress and GPA treatment are not the same thing.
Do transfer grades change my FSU cumulative GPA?
No. FSU tracks transfer and combined overall GPA separately, and grades earned elsewhere cannot be used to improve the FSU GPA or eliminate an FSU quality-point deficiency.
What GPA do I need to graduate from FSU?
The general undergraduate minimum is a 2.0 FSU cumulative GPA, along with all other degree requirements. Individual majors and programs can have additional requirements.
What GPA is needed for FSU graduation with distinction?
FSU currently lists 3.500 for cum laude, 3.700 for magna cum laude, and 3.900 for summa cum laude, with both the FSU cumulative and combined cumulative GPA meeting the applicable level.
Official Florida State University Resources
- Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Grading System
- FSU Transcript Legend and Grade History
- Current Registration Information and Forgiveness Policy
- Undergraduate Degree Requirements
- Degrees of Distinction
- Undergraduate Financial Aid SAP
- FSU Transfer Admission
- Graduate Admission Policies
- Graduate Academic Regulations
- Registrar Grade Services and S/U Forms
GPAcalculator.net is independent from Florida State University. Calculator results are planning estimates; your official FSU academic record and current university policies control GPA, standing, graduation, honors, financial aid, and other academic decisions.