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How to Use the Penn State GPA Calculator
Enter your previous Penn State GPA and GPA-bearing credits if you want a cumulative estimate, then add completed courses with their credits and final grades. You can also add planned courses to see a projected GPA or use the target tool to estimate the average you would need over future credits.
Important: The calculator is designed for the standard undergraduate Penn State GPA. It does not automatically apply grade forgiveness, academic renewal, graduate academic rules, or individual major requirements.
Penn State GPA Scale
Penn State uses a 4.0 scale with plus/minus values for A through C+, but not every possible plus/minus symbol exists in the undergraduate scale.
| Grade | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.000 |
| A- | 3.670 |
| B+ | 3.330 |
| B | 3.000 |
| B- | 2.670 |
| C+ | 2.330 |
| C | 2.000 |
| D | 1.000 |
| F | 0.000 |
An F counts in the GPA denominator but contributes zero grade points. Penn State’s standard undergraduate scale does not list A+, C-, D+, or D-.
Which Penn State Grades Count in GPA?
Letter grades A through F count in the standard GPA calculation. SA/UN courses are excluded from GPA, as are audit and withdrawal records. Deferred or unresolved grades such as DF and NG should be resolved before you rely on a final GPA estimate.
| Record | GPA treatment |
|---|---|
| A through D | Credits × grade-point value |
| F | Credits count; 0 grade points |
| SA / UN | Excluded from GPA |
| External transfer credit | External grade excluded from Penn State GPA |
| W / audit | Excluded from GPA |
| DF / NG | Wait for the final grade |
How Penn State Calculates GPA
Penn State multiplies each course’s credits by the grade-point value, adds the grade points, and divides by the GPA-bearing credits.
GPA = total grade points ÷ total GPA-bearing credits
For example, a 3-credit A earns 12.00 grade points. A 3-credit B+ earns 9.99. Together, the courses produce 21.99 grade points over 6 credits, for a GPA of 3.665.
Repeated Courses and Grade Forgiveness
Penn State grade forgiveness is not automatic. For eligible undergraduates, an original D or F may be omitted from GPA after the course is repeated with a better grade and a Grade Forgiveness Request is approved. The original course remains visible on the transcript.
Calculator limitation: Do not use a generic “replace the old grade” assumption for Penn State. Repeat eligibility, the original grade, the new grade, attempt limits, and the approved forgiveness request all matter. Until forgiveness is officially approved, use your actual academic record as the controlling source.
Students are generally limited to two attempts at a course unless an additional attempt is approved. Repeating a course in which you earned C or better requires an exception, and that earlier C-or-better grade is not eligible for grade forgiveness.
Transfer Credits and Penn State GPA
External transfer grades do not become part of your Penn State GPA. Accepted credits may still apply toward your degree, so “counts toward my degree” and “counts in my Penn State GPA” are two different questions.
If you took the course at another institution, do not enter its external letter grade as though it were a Penn State grade in the GPA calculation.
Academic Standing, Graduation, and Dean’s List
Penn State uses GPA differently depending on the decision being made. Keep these thresholds separate.
| Purpose | Published GPA context |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate good standing / recovery | 2.00 cumulative GPA is the key threshold; warning and suspension also depend on prior status and semester GPA |
| Undergraduate graduation | At least 2.00 cumulative GPA, plus degree/program requirements |
| Dean’s List | At least 3.50 semester GPA with the required GPA-bearing credit load |
| Undergraduate financial-aid SAP | At least 2.0 cumulative GPA, plus 67% completion and 150% maximum timeframe |
| Graduate good standing | At least 3.00 GPA for graduate degree students |
A calculator result by itself does not determine standing, graduation, aid eligibility, or program eligibility.
Academic Renewal
Penn State academic renewal is a separate recovery policy for certain former students. Eligibility includes at least four years without enrollment in Penn State credit courses and a previous cumulative GPA below 2.00. If approved, the academic cumulative GPA starts over, but the prior record remains on the transcript and financial-aid rules do not simply erase the old grades.
Because renewal changes the academic record under a formal policy, do not simulate it by deleting old courses from an ordinary GPA calculation unless Penn State has approved the renewal.
Penn State GPA FAQs
Does Penn State use a 4.0 GPA scale?
Yes. Penn State’s standard undergraduate GPA uses a 4.0 scale, with A = 4.000 and F = 0.000.
Is an A+ worth more than 4.0 at Penn State?
No. A+ is not listed in Penn State’s standard undergraduate grading scale; A is the highest listed grade at 4.000.
Does an F count in Penn State GPA?
Yes. An F contributes zero grade points, but the course credits remain in the GPA calculation unless a later approved policy action changes the record.
Do SA and UN affect Penn State GPA?
No. Courses taken under Penn State’s satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading option are not used in computing GPA.
Do transfer grades count in Penn State GPA?
No. Accepted transfer credits can apply toward a Penn State degree, but the external letter grades do not affect the Penn State GPA.
Does repeating a course automatically replace the old Penn State grade?
No. Grade forgiveness requires a qualifying original D or F, a better repeat grade, and an approved request. Simply repeating the course does not mean the calculator should automatically delete the first grade.
What GPA do I need for Penn State Dean’s List?
The published semester GPA threshold is 3.50 or higher, along with the applicable GPA-bearing credit-load requirement and other eligibility rules.
What GPA is required to transfer to Penn State?
Penn State publishes a 2.5 minimum for University Park and 2.0 for other campuses, but some programs require a higher GPA and additional coursework.
Is there a minimum GPA for first-year admission to Penn State?
Penn State states that it does not use a minimum GPA requirement for first-year admission. Application review considers multiple factors, so an enrolled-student GPA threshold should not be treated as an admissions cutoff.
Official Penn State Resources
- Penn State grading system
- Penn State GPA calculation and grade points
- Penn State grade forgiveness
- Undergraduate course repeat policy
- Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading
- Penn State academic progress
- Penn State Dean’s List
- Financial-aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Penn State transfer admission review
- Penn State first-year application review
- Penn State academic renewal
- Fox Graduate School satisfactory scholarship policy
GPAcalculator.net is independent from Penn State. Calculator results are planning estimates; your official Penn State academic record and current University policies control GPA, standing, graduation, financial aid, admissions, and other academic decisions.