How GPA Is Defined at University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign uses a 4.0 grading system with plus (+) and minus (−) grades. Letter grades that carry grade points earn quality points based on the course’s credit hours.
UIUC GPA is calculated as:
- Quality Points = (Grade Points for the grade) × (GPA hours / credit hours for the course)
- GPA = (Total Quality Points) ÷ (Total GPA Hours)
On the official transcript, UIUC GPAs display two digits after the decimal and are truncated (not rounded).
Who This GPA Calculator Is For
| Applies To | Does Not Apply To |
|---|---|
| Students calculating a term (semester) GPA from UIUC courses with standard letter grades (A+ through F). | Courses recorded with grade symbols that are excluded from GPA because grade points are not assigned (examples include CR/NC, S/U, W, AU, I, DFR, and other excluded symbols). |
| Students estimating Total Institution GPA using UIUC coursework that is included in GPA hours. | Any GPA that is defined differently by a specific program and not calculated using the campus grade-point system. |
| Students who want to mirror the transcript’s two-decimal, truncated GPA display. | Situations where you only have “in progress” grades (NR) or temporary grades (I/DFR) that have not converted to final grades. |
Before You Use the GPA Calculator
- Collect your final grade for each course and the course’s credit hours.
- Separate courses with standard letter grades (A+–F) from courses using excluded grade symbols (these do not contribute GPA hours or quality points).
- Decide which GPA you are matching (for example: Term GPA vs Total Institution GPA vs Overall GPA).
- If you repeated a course and filed for Campus Grade Replacement, confirm whether the repeat is intended to replace the first attempt in the GPA.
This calculator is intended to match UIUC’s transcript-style GPA calculation (quality points ÷ GPA hours), displayed to two decimals and truncated.
Types of GPA Reported at UIUC
UIUC transcripts can show multiple GPAs, and not every student will see every type.
- Term GPA: GPA for a single semester.
- Total Institution GPA: GPA for all coursework completed at UIUC that is included in GPA.
- Total Transfer GPA: GPA based on accepted transfer credit (when applicable on the transcript).
- Overall GPA: Combined GPA using both Institution and Transfer components (when applicable on the transcript).
This calculator can match a Term GPA or an Institution-style GPA when you enter the correct set of included courses and grades.
Undergraduate GPA
UIUC uses a uniform method for calculating undergraduate GPAs across undergraduate colleges on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Undergraduate GPAs are calculated based on courses attempted that carry credit and have grades and credits assigned under the campus grading system. Certain transcript grades are reported but excluded from GPA because grade points are not assigned.
Some university and college processes may reference a graduation (degree) average that is limited to courses that count toward the degree, including repeated courses.
Faculty / School GPA Distinction Table
| Faculty / School | GPA Calculated? | GPA Scale | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate colleges (campus-wide method) | Yes | 4.0 (plus/minus) | GPA uses quality points ÷ GPA hours for included grades. |
| Graduate College coursework (graduate enrollment) | Yes | 4.0 (plus/minus) | Graduate GPA rules apply to courses taken while enrolled as a graduate student. |
| College of Law (J.D.) | Yes | 4.0 (plus/minus) | College of Law CGPA is based on graded College of Law courses. |
Official GPA Scale
UIUC grade points (used in GPA calculation):
| 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 |
Which Courses Count Toward GPA
Courses can appear on your transcript but still be excluded from GPA if they do not carry grade points.
| Included in GPA | Not Included in GPA |
|---|---|
| Courses with grades A+ through F (and other GPA-included letter-grade entries shown as included on the transcript key). | Courses with symbols/grades that do not have grade points assigned, such as AU, CR, NC, DFR, I, NR, NV, S/U, W, and other transcript symbols designated as excluded from GPA. |
| Repeated courses count based on the applicable repeat policy (including grade replacement rules when properly used). | Courses graded in ways the university designates as excluded from grade-point averages on the transcript key (including certain temporary or special-purpose notations). |
Miscounts commonly happen when students accidentally include CR/NC, S/U, W, or temporary grades (like I/DFR) in GPA hours even though they are excluded until a final grade is posted (or are permanently excluded).
How Course Units Affect GPA at UIUC
UIUC GPAs are credit-hour weighted for all courses that are included in GPA.
- A 4-credit course contributes more GPA hours than a 1-credit course.
- Quality points scale with credit hours because they are calculated as grade points multiplied by GPA hours.
How GPA Is Calculated
UIUC uses the quality point method:
- Multiply grade points for each included course grade by the course’s GPA hours (credit hours) to get quality points.
- Add all quality points.
- Add all GPA hours.
- Divide total quality points by total GPA hours.
Example
Assume a semester with the following included grades:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | 3 | B+ | 3.33 | 9.99 |
| Course 2 | 4 | A | 4.00 | 16.00 |
| Course 3 | 3 | C− | 1.67 | 5.01 |
Totals:
- GPA Hours = 3 + 4 + 3 = 10
- Quality Points = 9.99 + 16.00 + 5.01 = 31.00
GPA = 31.00 ÷ 10 = 3.10 (then displayed on the transcript to two decimals using truncation rules).
Course Repeats or Special GPA Rules
UIUC has a Campus Grade Replacement option for undergraduate students, with specific limits and eligibility rules.
Key rules include:
- Grade replacement is limited to 4 distinct courses and no more than 10 semester hours total.
- A course may be repeated for grade replacement only if the first attempt grade was C−, D+, D, D−, or F.
- A course may be repeated for grade replacement only once.
- Both attempts remain on the official transcript, but when grade replacement applies, only the second grade counts in GPA.
- Grade replacement is not allowed for a course with an officially reported academic integrity violation.
- Students must file intent to use grade replacement within the required timeframe during the term of the repeat.
If the repeat situation does not meet grade replacement conditions, the general repeat rules apply, and both grades may be counted depending on the policy situation described in the repeat rules.
Transcript Grades vs GPA Calculations
UIUC transcripts can show grades and symbols that do not carry grade points. Those entries may still matter for credit, enrollment history, or degree progress, but they are not included in GPA when the university designates them as excluded from grade-point averages.
Graduate GPA
Graduate GPA at UIUC is based on all hours and grades for all courses taken while enrolled as a graduate student.
Graduate academic standing and degree eligibility use GPA thresholds that can include:
- A minimum semester GPA requirement for good standing.
- A minimum cumulative graduate GPA requirement (which may vary by program).
- A minimum GPA requirement to be eligible for an advanced degree, with some programs requiring a higher standard.
Graduate records can also include grade notations that are excluded from GPA calculation when grade points are not assigned.
Common GPA Mistakes Students Make
- Including CR/NC, S/U, W, AU, or other excluded symbols in GPA hours.
- Mixing up Term GPA and Total Institution GPA when checking results.
- Forgetting that transcript GPA display is truncated, not rounded.
- Counting an Incomplete (I) or Deferred (DFR) as a final grade in GPA before it converts to a permanent grade.
- Applying grade replacement in a calculation without confirming that intent was filed and the course meets the eligibility rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UIUC round GPAs on the official transcript?
No. UIUC transcript GPAs show two digits after the decimal and are truncated rather than rounded.
That means a value like 2.189 becomes 2.18 on the transcript display.
What are the GPA types I might see on a UIUC transcript?
UIUC transcripts can show Term GPA, Total Institution GPA, Total Transfer GPA, and Overall GPA.
Not all students see every type, and the presence of transfer components depends on whether transfer GPA totals are shown for your record.
Is an A+ higher than an A in UIUC GPA?
No. Under UIUC grade points, A+ and A both carry 4.00 grade points.
An A+ may appear on the transcript, but it does not increase GPA above an A.
Do CR/NC or S/U classes affect my UIUC GPA?
No. These grades are reported on the transcript but are excluded from GPA because grade points are not assigned to them.
They should not be counted in GPA hours or quality points when you calculate GPA.
If I repeat a course under grade replacement, which grade counts in GPA?
When Campus Grade Replacement applies, only the grade from the second enrollment counts in the GPA, while both attempts remain on the transcript.
Grade replacement has limits (course count and credit hours) and only applies when the repeat meets the university’s eligibility rules.
What is the difference between “graduation GPA” and other GPAs at UIUC?
UIUC policies describe a graduation average that includes only grades in courses counting toward the degree, including repeated courses.
Other transcript GPAs may be displayed as term-based or institution-based totals depending on the transcript format and credit types.
Are transfer courses included in my UIUC GPA?
UIUC transcripts can display separate institution and transfer GPA totals, and may also show an overall GPA combining them.
Whether and how transfer GPA totals appear depends on how accepted transfer credit is finalized and displayed on the transcript.
Related Official University Links
- Office of the Registrar — Calculate Your GPA
https://registrar.illinois.edu/courses-grades/calculate-your-gpa/ - Office of the Registrar — Explanation of Grades
https://registrar.illinois.edu/courses-grades/explanation-of-grades/ - Office of the Registrar — Transcript Key (Fall 2025–Present)
https://registrar.illinois.edu/transcript-key-2/ - Student Code § 3-103 — Computation of Scholastic Averages
https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article3/part1/3-103 - Student Code § 3-309 — Repeated Undergraduate Courses and Campus Grade Replacement
https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article3/part3/3-309 - Office of the Registrar — Campus Grade Replacement Policy
https://registrar.illinois.edu/faculty-staff/policies/campus-grade-replacement/ - Graduate College — Graduate College Handbook (2025–2026)
https://grad.illinois.edu/document/handbook - University of Illinois College of Law — Academic Policy Handbook (J.D.)
https://law.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/APH-2019-JD.pdf
Accuracy Disclaimer
This guide is based only on publicly available University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign academic policy and registrar documentation. Official transcript and university records govern the final GPA calculation in all cases.