How UCLA Calculates Your GPA
At UCLA—aka the University of California, Los Angeles—your GPA is calculated based on the standard 4.0 scale used throughout the University of California system. Whether you’re juggling classes in North Campus or battling labs in South Campus, GPA is your academic scorecard.
UCLA uses two main types of GPA:
- Term GPA – for one quarter only
- Cumulative GPA – for all UCLA work completed
- Major GPA – calculated using only the upper-division courses required for your major
Every letter grade you earn is assigned a number value. Multiply that by the number of units the course is worth, add it all up, then divide by total units. That’s your GPA!
UCLA Grade Scale
Here’s how UCLA converts your letter grades into GPA points:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| 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 |
| D− | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
Non-GPA Grades
Some grades don’t count toward your GPA:
- P (Pass) and NP (No Pass) – used in Pass/No Pass grading
- I (Incomplete) – pending until completed
- W (Withdrawn) – no effect on GPA
- NR (No Report) – temporary placeholder from faculty
Unit Weight Matters
At UCLA, most classes are 4 units, but they can range from 1 to 6 or more. GPA is weighted by unit value, meaning a 5-unit course counts more in your GPA than a 2-unit course. For example:
If you got:
- A in a 4-unit class = 4.0 × 4 = 16
- B in a 3-unit class = 3.0 × 3 = 9
- F in a 5-unit class = 0.0 × 5 = 0
You’d calculate:
(16 + 9 + 0) ÷ (4 + 3 + 5) = 25 ÷ 12 = 2.08 GPA
Faculty and Departmental Differences
Most departments follow the university-wide 4.0 system. However, some academic departments—particularly in the sciences or engineering—are known for tougher grading curves, while others may offer more generous distributions. For official variations, students are encouraged to check:
- The College of Letters & Science
- The School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS)
- The Herb Alpert School of Music
- The School of Theater, Film and Television
But grading policy rules (A = 4.0, etc.) stay the same across all of UCLA.
Academic Probation and Honors
Probation:
- GPA below 2.0 = academic probation
- Continued low GPA = subject to disqualification
Honors:
- Dean’s Honors List: Quarter GPA ≥ 3.75, with at least 12 graded units
- Latin Honors:
- Cum Laude: top 30% (usually ≥ 3.7 GPA)
- Magna Cum Laude: top 15%
- Summa Cum Laude: top 5%
These cutoffs can vary yearly by college and major.
Final Tips for Bruins
- Use the MyUCLA GPA calculator to experiment with what-if grades.
- Be mindful of Pass/No Pass limits, especially if you plan to apply to grad school.
- Aim for a strong upper-division GPA—this matters a lot for grad school and departmental honors.
- UCLA doesn’t do grade replacement, but repeating a course can impact your GPA—check your limit on repeat units!