What Counts Toward Your GPA?

Quick Reference: What Counts?

Standard Letter Grades (A–F)

All standard letter grades (A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D−, F) always count toward your GPA. Each is converted to quality points and multiplied by credit hours.

See the full GPA formula guide →

Pass/Fail Courses

When you take a course Pass/Fail (P/F), Credit/No Credit (CR/NC), or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U):

• Pass/Credit/Satisfactory: You earn credit hours but no quality points — GPA is not affected
• Fail/No Credit/Unsatisfactory: At most schools, this doesn't affect GPA either. But some schools do count a Fail as 0.0

Detailed Pass/Fail guide →

Withdrawals

W (Withdrawal)

A standard withdrawal (W) has no effect on GPA. You don't earn credit hours or quality points. The W appears on your transcript but doesn't factor into any calculation.

However, multiple W's can raise red flags for graduate admissions and scholarship committees.

WF (Withdrawal Failing)

WF is different — it typically counts as an F (0.0) in your GPA. This usually happens when you stop attending a class without officially withdrawing by the deadline.

WP (Withdrawal Passing)

WP indicates you were passing at the time of withdrawal. Like W, it does not affect your GPA.

Transfer Credits

This is where it gets tricky:

At Your New School

• Transfer credits count toward graduation requirements
• Transfer grades do NOT count toward your institutional GPA
• Your new school starts you with a fresh GPA

For Application Services

• LSAC (law school): Recalculates INCLUDING all undergraduate grades from every institution
• AMCAS (medical school): Includes all grades from all institutions
• CASPA (PA school): Includes all grades from all institutions

Application service comparison →

Repeated Courses

How your school handles retakes directly impacts your GPA:

• Grade Replacement: Only the new grade counts (most favorable to students)
• Count All Attempts: Both the old and new grade count (LSAC does this)
• Higher Only: Only the higher grade counts
• Average: Old and new grades are averaged

Full repeat policy guide → | Retake Calculator →

Incompletes

An Incomplete (I) is a temporary placeholder. Most schools give you a deadline (usually the next semester) to finish the coursework. After the deadline:

• If you complete the work: I converts to the earned letter grade
• If you don't: I typically converts to an F (0.0)

While the grade is still I, it usually doesn't affect your GPA. Once converted, the final grade counts.

Audited Courses

Audit (AU) means you sat in on a class without receiving credit. It appears on your transcript but has zero impact on GPA, credit hours, or any calculations.

Special Cases by Level

High School

• All academic courses typically count
• PE, Study Hall, TA periods may or may not count (varies by school)
• Weighted GPA adds bonus points for AP/IB/Honors

Community College

• All graded courses count
• Non-credit courses (remedial/developmental) may or may not count
• When transferring to a 4-year school, grades typically don't transfer

Graduate School

• Undergraduate grades don't affect graduate GPA (separate calculation)
• Some programs only count courses in your major toward departmental GPA
• Research credits and thesis work may or may not carry grades