How GPA Works at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
At UT Knoxville, your GPA isn’t just a number—it’s a running tally of your academic hustle. It’s calculated every semester and cumulatively, showing how you’re doing overall and within each term. GPA influences your academic standing, honors eligibility, and sometimes your financial aid status, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
UTK uses the 4.0 GPA scale, and all letter grades earned in credit-bearing courses count toward your GPA unless they are designated as pass/fail, audit, or otherwise non-graded.
UTK GPA/Grade Scale
Here’s how grades convert to grade points per credit hour:
| Letter 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 |
| D− | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
To calculate your GPA:
- Multiply the grade points by the number of credit hours for each course.
- Add all the quality points.
- Divide by the total number of GPA-credit hours.
Let’s say you got an A in a 3-credit course (3 x 4.0 = 12 points), a B in a 4-credit course (4 x 3.0 = 12 points), and a C+ in a 3-credit course (3 x 2.3 = 6.9 points). Add those up: 12 + 12 + 6.9 = 30.9 quality points. Divide by the total credit hours (3 + 4 + 3 = 10) and your GPA is 3.09.
Department or Program-Specific GPA Policies
Some colleges and departments within UTK have their own GPA requirements:
Haslam College of Business
- Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA for progression to upper-division courses.
College of Nursing
- Requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 for progression to upper-division courses.
Tickle College of Engineering
- Requires a 2.0 GPA minimum in engineering courses to stay in good academic standing.
Always check your college’s academic policies—some programs may require higher GPAs for internships, graduation, or staying enrolled in your major.
Other Grading Notes
- Incomplete (I): Temporary and must be completed within one calendar year.
- Pass/No Credit (P/NC): Doesn’t affect your GPA but can affect degree progress.
- Repeat Grades: If you retake a course, only the most recent grade counts toward your GPA (even if it’s lower), but both attempts stay on your transcript.