Table of Contents
How Ohio State calculates GPA
Ohio State calls GPA a point-hour ratio (PHR), and the cumulative version a cumulative point-hour ratio (CPHR). For each GPA-bearing course, multiply the course’s semester credit hours by the grade-point value, add the resulting points, and divide by the total GPA-bearing credit hours.
Quick answer: E and EN are not simply ignored. They earn 0.0 grade points while their credit hours remain in the GPA calculation, so they can lower your GPA.
| Grade | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| E | 0.0 |
| EN | 0.0 |
Ohio State’s standard grading system does not use A+, D-, or F.
Which Ohio State grades do not count in GPA?
Several marks can appear on an Ohio State record without entering the point-hour ratio. Common examples include EM credit by examination, I/IX incompletes, K/KD transfer credit, PA/NP, S/U, PE, audit R, and W. Temporary marks should not be converted into invented letter grades; use the final posted grade when the university records one.
Exceptional grading note: Some exceptional-circumstances and historical marks require policy-period review. If your transcript contains NEN, UEN, or another unusual notation, confirm its treatment before relying on a numerical estimate.
Worked Ohio State GPA example
Suppose you complete a 3-credit course with an A and a 3-credit course with a B+. The A contributes 12.0 points and the B+ contributes 9.9 points. Your total is 21.9 points over 6 GPA hours, so the GPA is 3.650.
The same method works for cumulative GPA: start with your existing Ohio State cumulative GPA and GPA hours, then add new GPA-bearing courses. If you enter a rounded prior GPA rather than the university’s underlying record values, a projection can differ slightly from the official result.
Repeating a course and Grade Forgiveness
Ohio State has two different repeat situations, and mixing them up can produce the wrong GPA estimate.
| Situation | Ohio State GPA treatment |
|---|---|
| Ordinary repeat | Both completed grades normally count in the point-hour ratio. |
| Approved undergraduate Grade Forgiveness | The eligible first attempt is excluded from the Ohio State cumulative GPA after the second attempt is completed; the second grade is used even if it is lower. |
The calculator’s Repeat Impact tool is only for the second situation. It does not decide whether you qualify for Grade Forgiveness, whether a repeat is permitted, whether you met the petition deadline, or how a third attempt is treated. Ohio State limits undergraduate Grade Forgiveness to three courses, with one forgiveness use per course, and both attempts remain visible on the transcript.
Important: If you are repeating a course without approved Grade Forgiveness, enter both graded attempts as completed courses instead of using the replacement estimate.
Do transfer grades count in Ohio State GPA?
No. Ohio State states that grades and GPA from previous institutions do not transfer into the Ohio State GPA. Accepted transfer credit can appear with a K-type notation, but that does not make the external grade part of your Ohio State point-hour ratio.
This distinction matters when you are planning a major or program: a college or department may still look at transfer work for a separate eligibility calculation even though the grade is not part of the university CPHR.
Fresh Start is different from Grade Forgiveness
Ohio State also has a Fresh Start rule for eligible returning undergraduates after a long absence. It is a petition-based recalculation with its own requirements, not a normal repeat replacement. This calculator does not determine Fresh Start eligibility or reconstruct a Fresh Start GPA; if Fresh Start has already been officially applied, use the resulting official Ohio State GPA and GPA hours as your baseline.
GPA thresholds students often confuse
| Purpose | Published GPA context |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate good standing | Cumulative CPHR of at least 2.0 |
| Undergraduate graduation | Cumulative CPHR of at least 2.0, plus degree/college requirements |
| Dean’s List | Typically 3.5 term GPA plus course-load and grade conditions |
| Cum laude | 3.5 CPHR plus qualifying Ohio State hours and other conditions |
| Magna cum laude | 3.7 CPHR plus qualifying Ohio State hours and other conditions |
| Summa cum laude | 3.9 CPHR plus qualifying Ohio State hours and other conditions |
| Financial-aid SAP, first undergraduate year | 1.80 minimum by end of first academic year |
| Financial-aid SAP, later undergraduate years / transfers | 2.00 minimum |
| Graduate School good standing | Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better |
These numbers serve different purposes. A calculator result by itself does not determine probation, dismissal, financial aid, honors, major admission, or graduation.
Ohio State GPA FAQs
Does Ohio State use A+ or D- grades?
No. The current standard Ohio State grade-point table uses A through E with plus/minus values at A-, B+/B-, C+/C-, and D+, but no A+, D-, or F.
Does an E count in Ohio State GPA?
Yes. E is worth 0.0 grade points and its credit hours remain in the point-hour ratio, so it lowers GPA.
Does EN count in Ohio State GPA?
Yes for the standard EN mark. Ohio State says EN is treated as E when calculating the point-hour ratio. Exceptional-circumstances variants such as NEN should be checked separately.
Does NP lower Ohio State GPA?
NP is excluded from the normal point-hour ratio. It can still matter for earned credit, progress, prerequisites, aid pace, or other academic rules, so “not in GPA” does not mean “no academic effect.”
Can Grade Forgiveness make my GPA lower?
Yes. Once an approved Grade Forgiveness repeat is completed, the second grade is used for the Ohio State cumulative GPA even if it is lower than the first grade.
Do both grades stay on my transcript after Grade Forgiveness?
Yes. Grade Forgiveness changes the Ohio State cumulative GPA treatment, but the original attempt remains on the academic record.
Do transfer grades affect my Ohio State cumulative GPA?
No. Ohio State does not transfer the prior institution’s grades or GPA into the Ohio State GPA, although transfer credit may be used for other academic purposes.
What GPA puts an undergraduate on probation?
A cumulative Ohio State CPHR below 2.0 normally places an undergraduate on academic probation, though colleges can also use special-action probation based on academic progress.
Official Ohio State Resources
- Buckeye’s Guide to Academic Policies
- Ohio State transcript key
- Grades and Grade Forgiveness
- Faculty rules on grade forgiveness and course repetition
- Ohio State transfer credit FAQ
- Undergraduate academic standing
- Satisfactory Academic Progress policy
- Graduate School Handbook
- Graduation and Latin honors information
- Graduate admissions GPA calculation
GPAcalculator.net is independent from The Ohio State University. Calculator results are planning estimates; your official Ohio State academic record and current university, college, and program policies control. Confirm unusual grades, repeat eligibility, Fresh Start, standing, aid, and graduation questions with the appropriate Ohio State office.