Common GPA Terms
Credit Hours
The hours a course is worth, usually 1 to 5, shown in the class schedule or catalog.
Grade Value
The number a grade gets, like A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0.
Grade Points
Credit hours times the grade value—shows how much a class counts.
Attempted Hours
Hours you took and got a grade for, not counting incompletes or withdrawals (but WF counts as an F).
Earned Hours
Hours you passed with a D or better.
Cumulative GPA
Your total GPA from all semesters, grade points divided by attempted hours.
Quality Points
Same as grade points—the value of your grade times the hours.
Pass/No Pass (P/NP)
A grade that’s just pass or no pass, doesn’t change your GPA.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
Weighted gives extra points for hard classes (like 5.0 for an A in AP); unweighted maxes at 4.0 no matter what.
GPA Frequently Asked Questions: