How GPA Is Defined at Rice University
Rice University calculates grade point average (GPA) as a weighted average of the numeric values assigned to standard letter grades. GPA weighting is based on the credit hours attempted in each course: each course’s credit hours are multiplied by the grade points earned, then totals are divided by total attempted hours. Grade point averages are noted each semester on the official transcript.
Who This GPA Calculator Is For
| Applies To | Does Not Apply To |
|---|---|
| Students who need to calculate GPA using Rice University standard letter-grade courses and Rice’s grade-point values | Courses recorded as Transfer Credit (TR), since transfer work has no effect on the Rice GPA |
| Students who want to estimate GPA effects for courses taken for credit with letter grades (A+ through F) | Courses recorded as Audit (AUD/NC), since audits have no credit hours and do not affect GPA |
| Students who need to understand how Pass/Fail (P/F) and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades do or do not enter GPA | Study Away (SA) placeholder courses, which carry no grade points and no credit hours earned |
Before You Use the GPA Calculator
- Confirm each course’s credit hours (because GPA is credit-hour weighted).
- Use the exact Rice grade-point values for each letter grade.
- Identify any courses graded as Pass/Fail (P/F) or S/U, because those grades are handled differently in GPA.
- Exclude coursework recorded as TR (Transfer Credit), since it does not affect Rice GPA.
- If a course was repeated, check the transcript repeat indicator (A / E / I), because it determines whether an attempt is included in GPA and/or earned hours.
This calculator is intended to match Rice’s official GPA method for standard letter-grade coursework using Rice’s published grade points and credit-hour weighting.
Types of GPA Reported at Rice University
Rice University notes grade point averages each semester on the official transcript. Depending on how you select courses for calculation, the same Rice GPA method can be applied to a single term’s courses or to multiple terms of Rice GPA-bearing coursework.
Not all students will see the same grading modes in every course (for example, some courses use letter grades, while others may use P/F or S/U). This calculator matches the GPA method for standard letter-grade courses using Rice’s grade points and credit-hour weighting.
Undergraduate GPA
Undergraduate GPA at Rice is computed using standard letter grades (A+ through F) converted into grade points and weighted by credit hours attempted. Rice also uses special grading modes and designations (such as P/F, S/U, AUD/NC, INC, SA, TR, W) that may appear on the transcript and may be excluded from GPA depending on the designation.
Faculty / School GPA Distinction Table
| Faculty / School | GPA Calculated? | GPA Scale | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University undergraduate coursework (all schools/divisions) | Yes | 4.00 scale (A and A+ are 4.00) | GPA uses Rice’s published grade points and credit-hour weighting for standard letter grades. Transcript designations (e.g., TR, AUD, SA, W, INC) may be excluded from GPA depending on the designation. |
Official GPA Scale
Rice University assigns the following grade points to standard letter grades:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.00 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
Rice’s published scale states that A and A+ are both worth 4.00 grade points under the current policy.
Which Courses Count Toward GPA
| Included in GPA | Not Included in GPA |
|---|---|
| Courses carrying standard letter grades (A+ through F), weighted by credit hours attempted | Transfer Credit (TR) coursework (transfer work does not affect Rice GPA) |
| A grade of F is included in GPA calculations (including when a course is taken as Pass/Fail and results in F) | Pass (P) in Pass/Fail grading (P is excluded from GPA) |
| Repeated-course attempts marked with transcript indicators that say the attempt is included in GPA | Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades (S and U are excluded from GPA) |
| Audit grading (AUD/NC), which has no credit hours and does not affect GPA | |
| Special grade designations that explicitly do not affect GPA (for example, some transcript designations accompany a grade but do not affect GPA) |
Miscounts commonly happen when students accidentally include grades and designations that Rice records on the transcript but excludes from GPA, such as TR, P, S/U, or audit outcomes.
How Course Units Affect GPA at Rice University
Rice GPA is credit-hour weighted. Each course’s grade points are multiplied by the course’s credit hours attempted. A higher-credit course has a larger impact on GPA than a lower-credit course with the same letter grade.
How GPA Is Calculated
Rice’s GPA method for standard letter-grade courses:
- For each course with a standard letter grade, multiply:
(credit hours attempted) × (grade points for the letter grade) - Add the grade points across all included courses.
- Divide by the total credit hours attempted for the included courses.
Example (letter-graded courses only):
- Course 1: 4 credit hours, grade A (4.00) → 4 × 4.00 = 16.00
- Course 2: 3 credit hours, grade B+ (3.33) → 3 × 3.33 = 9.99
- Course 3: 1 credit hour, grade C (2.00) → 1 × 2.00 = 2.00
Total grade points = 16.00 + 9.99 + 2.00 = 27.99
Total attempted hours = 4 + 3 + 1 = 8
GPA = 27.99 ÷ 8 = 3.49875 (often displayed rounded on transcripts and systems)
Course Repeats or Special GPA Rules
Rice University marks repeated courses on the transcript using repeat indicators next to the grade:
- A = Included in GPA, but excluded from earned hours
- E = Excluded from both GPA and earned hours
- I = Included in GPA and earned hours
When a repeated course is used to repeat a prior attempt for credit purposes, Rice states that the attempt with the highest grade will carry earned hours (credit toward hours earned), and students acknowledge that no additional credit will be earned if credit was granted in the previous attempt.
Transcript Grades vs GPA Calculations
Rice transcripts can show grades and designations that do not affect GPA, even though they appear on the academic record. Common examples include Transfer Credit (TR), Audit (AUD/NC), S/U, and P for Pass/Fail. Always rely on the grade mode and designation recorded for each course when deciding whether it belongs in a GPA calculation.
Graduate GPA
Rice’s graduate academic policies use the same published grade points and the same GPA calculation method for standard letter-grade courses: grade points are multiplied by credit hours attempted, added, and divided by total attempted hours. Graduate policies also specify that:
- S/U grades are excluded from GPA.
- For Pass/Fail, P is excluded from GPA, while F is included in GPA.
Graduate programs may also provide program-specific requirements and handbooks, and students are responsible for meeting both program and university requirements.
Common GPA Mistakes Students Make
- Counting Transfer Credit (TR) courses in Rice GPA even though transfer work does not affect Rice GPA.
- Treating a P grade as GPA-bearing (Rice excludes P from GPA).
- Forgetting that F can be included in GPA even when a course was taken as Pass/Fail.
- Including S/U grades in GPA calculations even though Rice excludes S and U from GPA.
- Including audit outcomes (AUD/NC) in GPA even though audits have no credit hours and do not affect GPA.
- Ignoring repeated-course transcript indicators (A / E / I) that determine whether an attempt is included in GPA and/or earned hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rice University use a 4.0 GPA scale?
Yes. Rice University assigns grade points on a 4.00 scale for standard letter grades, including plus/minus grades. Under the published policy, both A and A+ are worth 4.00 grade points.
Is an A+ worth more than an A at Rice?
No. Rice’s published grade-point table lists A+ = 4.00 and A = 4.00 under the current policy. Rice also notes that an earlier policy gave A+ a higher value prior to Fall 2018, but the current scale treats A and A+ equally.
Do Pass/Fail classes affect Rice GPA?
Sometimes. A P (Pass) grade is excluded from GPA, but an F (Fail) is included in GPA even in Pass/Fail grading. Pass/Fail outcomes are based on the standard letter grade submitted by the instructor.
Do Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades affect Rice GPA?
No. Rice excludes both S and U grades from GPA calculations. S/U courses can still matter for credit earned (for example, S may count toward earned credits), but S and U do not enter GPA.
Does transfer credit count in Rice GPA?
No. Rice states that transferred courses recorded as TR (Transfer Credit) have no effect on a student’s Rice grade point average. Transfer work may award credit, but it does not change Rice GPA.
How are repeated courses handled in Rice GPA?
Rice uses transcript repeat indicators to show how a repeated attempt is treated. An attempt marked A is included in GPA but excluded from earned hours; E is excluded from both GPA and earned hours; I is included in both GPA and earned hours. Rice also states that the attempt with the highest grade carries earned hours when a course is repeated for credit purposes.
Do audited courses affect GPA at Rice?
No. Audited courses use AUD (or NC if audit requirements are not met), have no credit hours, and do not affect GPA. Audit status may appear on the transcript, but it is not part of GPA.
Related Official University Links (END OF PAGE)
- GPA Calculation — Office of the Registrar (Rice University)
https://registrar.rice.edu/students/gpa-calculation - Grades (Undergraduate Academic Policies) — Rice University General Announcements
https://ga.rice.edu/undergraduate-students/academic-policies-procedures/grades/ - Regulations and Procedures for All Graduate Students — Rice University General Announcements
https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/academic-policies-procedures/regulations-procedures-all-degrees/ - Repeated Courses — Office of the Registrar (Rice University)
https://registrar.rice.edu/students/reg_repeated_courses - The Pass/Fail Option — Office of the Registrar (Rice University)
https://registrar.rice.edu/students/the-pass-fail-option - General Announcements (Official Catalog) — Rice University
https://ga.rice.edu/
Accuracy Disclaimer
This guide is based on publicly available Rice University registrar and academic policy documentation. Official GPA calculations shown on Rice University transcripts and university systems govern in all cases.