How UW–Madison calculates GPA

UW–Madison calculates GPA from the credits and grade points in courses that receive standard A–F grades. The university does not use plus or minus grades in its general grading system. Instead, AB and BC are the intermediate grades between A and B, and between B and C.

Grade	Grade points per credit
A	4.0
AB	3.5
B	3.0
BC	2.5
C	2.0
D	1.0
F	0.0

To calculate GPA, multiply each course’s credits by its grade-point value, add the grade points, then divide by the total GPA-bearing credits.

Example: A 4-credit AB earns 14 grade points, and a 3-credit B earns 9. That is 23 grade points over 7 credits, for a GPA of about 3.286.

Which grades count in your UW–Madison GPA?

A, AB, B, BC, C, D, and F count in the standard UW–Madison GPA. An F adds zero grade points, but its credits still remain in the GPA denominator.

Pass/fail S and U grades do not enter the GPA. Credit/no-credit grades and temporary grades such as Incomplete or No Report also do not receive ordinary grade points. If a temporary grade is later replaced by a final A–F grade, use the final grade when updating your estimate.

Do transfer grades count?

No. UW–Madison’s institutional GPA is based on UW–Madison coursework. Transfer grades and credit earned by exam can count toward academic credit or degree requirements when approved, but they do not carry grade points into the UW–Madison GPA.

What happens when you repeat a course?

UW–Madison does not use ordinary grade replacement for repeated undergraduate courses. When an A–F course is repeated, all A–F grades and their grade points remain in the GPA, while course credit generally counts only once for other purposes.

Calculator limitation: The calculator’s Repeat Impact replacement tool is disabled for UW–Madison because a replacement estimate would be misleading. Enter each graded attempt as its own completed course instead.

For example, if you earn an F in a 3-credit course and later repeat it for an A, the GPA calculation includes both the 3-credit F at 0 points and the 3-credit A at 12 points.

Projecting your future GPA

For a projected GPA, enter your existing cumulative GPA and GPA-bearing UW–Madison credits, then add the courses and grades you expect to earn. The calculator combines your existing grade points with the planned courses.

A projection is most useful for planning. Your official record may change if a temporary grade is resolved, a course is dropped, or your entered baseline does not match the GPA-bearing credits on your UW–Madison record.

What GPA do you need next semester?

The target GPA tool estimates the average grade points per credit you would need over a chosen number of future credits. If the required average is above 4.0, the target cannot be reached within that number of credits using the standard UW–Madison scale.

This is a mathematical planning result, not a determination of academic standing, major eligibility, honors, financial aid, or graduation status.

Different GPA rules and academic contexts

UW Law School uses a different scale

The University of Wisconsin Law School uses a separate 4.3 grading scale for current law students, including A+, A, A−, B+, and other plus/minus grades. Do not use the standard UW–Madison undergraduate calculator for a Law School GPA.

Graduate students

Graduate coursework generally uses the university’s 4.0 grading system, but Graduate School degree progress has separate rules. The Graduate School requires a 3.00 or greater graduate GPA as a minimum for satisfactory progress, and individual programs may set higher requirements.

School, college, and major requirements

Academic standing, Dean’s List, major GPA, and graduation requirements can differ by school or college. For example, Letters & Science publishes its own standing and Dean’s List rules, while the Wisconsin School of Business requires a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA for graduation. Use the policy for your actual school, college, and program rather than treating one GPA threshold as university-wide.

UW–Madison GPA FAQs

Does UW–Madison use plus and minus grades?

No. The standard university grading system does not use plus or minus grades. UW–Madison uses AB and BC as intermediate grades, worth 3.5 and 2.5 grade points per credit.

Is an AB a 3.5 at UW–Madison?

Yes. An AB is worth 3.5 grade points per credit in the standard UW–Madison grading system.

Does an F count in my UW–Madison GPA?

Yes. An F is worth 0 grade points, and its credits still count when the GPA is calculated.

Do pass/fail courses affect GPA?

No. For the undergraduate pass/fail option, S and U are excluded from the GPA calculation.

Does retaking a class replace my old grade?

No. For standard undergraduate repeats, both A–F attempts remain in the GPA. Enter both attempts separately in the calculator.

Do transfer grades affect my UW–Madison GPA?

No. Transfer coursework can receive UW–Madison credit, but the grades from the previous institution do not enter the UW–Madison institutional GPA.

What GPA do I need for the Dean’s List?

There is not one university-wide Dean’s List GPA threshold for every undergraduate. Each school or college sets its own requirements, usually alongside a minimum number of graded credits.

Is a 2.0 GPA required to graduate from UW–Madison?

Some undergraduate schools and programs, including the Wisconsin School of Business, publish a 2.000 cumulative GPA graduation requirement. Requirements can vary by school, college, major, and other degree rules, so check the Guide for your program rather than assuming one threshold applies to every UW–Madison degree.

Official UW–Madison resources

This UW–Madison GPA calculator is an unofficial planning tool. Always use your official UW–Madison record and the current policy for your school, college, or program when making academic decisions.

UW–Madison GPA Calculator

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