UCLA GPA Calculator – Calculate Your UCLA Term & Cumulative GPA

The Complete Guide to the UCLA GPA Calculator

For every student at the University of California, Los Angeles, the Grade Point Average (GPA) is the primary metric of academic achievement. It's a critical number that impacts everything from major declaration and academic standing to eligibility for honors and future career or graduate school opportunities. This guide, paired with our powerful **UCLA GPA calculator**, will help you master the **UCLA GPA calculation** process, understand the official rules, and strategically plan your academic journey as a Bruin.

How UCLA Calculates GPA: The Official Formula

The University of California system, including UCLA, uses a standard 4.0 scale. Your GPA is a weighted average that accounts for the number of "units" (credits) each course is worth. The official formula for **calculating UCLA GPA** is straightforward:

GPA = Total Grade Points ÷ Total Attempted Units

To use this formula, you must first understand the two key components:

• Attempted Units: These are the units for courses in which you receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F). Courses taken on a Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis do not count toward your GPA. [caac.ucla.edu]
• Grade Points: Each letter grade is assigned a numeric value on the 4.0 scale. To find the grade points for a single course, you multiply the course units by the grade's point value.

Official UCLA Grade Point Scale

This is the official conversion table used by UCLA to translate letter grades into grade points. Our **GPA calculator for UCLA** is built using these exact values to ensure accuracy.

How to Use the UCLA GPA Calculator: A Step-by-Step Guide

Our **calculate college gpa ucla** tool is designed to be both simple and powerful, with modes for term (quarter) and cumulative GPA.

1. Calculate Your Term (Quarter) GPA

1. Select "Calculate Term GPA" mode.
2. Add Your Courses: Click "+ Add Course" for each class in your current quarter.
3. Enter Units and Grade: For each course, input its unit value and the letter grade you received or expect to receive.
4. Calculate: The tool will instantly compute your total grade points, total units, and your GPA for that specific quarter.

2. Calculate Your Cumulative GPA

This mode shows how your current quarter's grades will affect your overall GPA.

1. Select "Calculate Cumulative GPA" mode.
2. Enter Your Current GPA: Input your current cumulative GPA and the total number of graded units you've completed so far (found on your Degree Audit Report).
3. Add New Courses: Enter the courses for your current quarter.
4. Calculate: The calculator will merge your past and present performance to display your new, updated cumulative GPA.

Example Calculation Walkthrough:

A student has a current cumulative GPA of 3.50 from 90 units. This quarter, they are taking 13 units:

• CHEM 14D (4 units): Grade A- (3.7) → 4 × 3.7 = 14.8 grade points
• MIMG 101 (5 units): Grade B (3.0) → 5 × 3.0 = 15.0 grade points
• HIST 1A (4 units): Grade A (4.0) → 4 × 4.0 = 16.0 grade points

The tool first calculates the term GPA: (14.8 + 15.0 + 16.0) ÷ 13 = 3.523. Then, it updates the cumulative GPA, showing a complete picture of the student's progress.

UCLA GPA Requirements and Academic Standing

Understanding GPA benchmarks is crucial for every Bruin.

• Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, undergraduate students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (a "C" average) each quarter, as well as a cumulative 2.0 GPA. [catalog.registrar.ucla.edu]
• Latin Honors: To graduate with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude), students must meet high cumulative GPA thresholds, which vary by college but are often in the 3.8-3.9+ range for the highest honors. [registrar.ucla.edu]
• Admission GPA: While UCLA practices holistic review for freshman admissions, academic excellence is paramount. For transfer students, minimum GPA requirements vary by major, with many competitive programs requiring a GPA of 3.2 or higher for consideration. [ASUCLA]

Strategic Tips for Managing Your UCLA GPA

• Prioritize High-Unit Courses: An 'A' in a 5-unit course will boost your GPA far more than an 'A' in a 2-unit course. Use the calculator to see the potential impact of your classes.
• Understand the P/NP Option: You can take a certain number of courses on a Pass/Not Pass basis. A 'Pass' grade does not affect your GPA but still earns you units toward graduation. This can be a smart strategy for challenging electives outside your major.
• Plan Your Quarters: Use the calculator to simulate future quarters. By setting target grades for your planned courses, you can create a roadmap to achieve a specific cumulative GPA.
• Repeating Courses: If you receive a grade of C- or below, you may be able to repeat the course. The new grade will replace the old one in your GPA calculation, though both attempts will remain on your transcript. This is a powerful tool for GPA recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How does UCLA calculate GPA?

The **UCLA GPA calculation** is done by dividing your total grade points by your total attempted units for letter-graded courses. Grade points are determined by a 4.0 scale where A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, and so on.

Q2: Can this calculator handle multiple quarters at once?

Yes. You can either use the "Cumulative GPA" mode if you know your current GPA, or stay in "Term GPA" mode and simply add all courses from all quarters into the list. The formula will calculate the overall GPA correctly.

Q3: Do grades for courses taken at other colleges count in my UCLA GPA?

No. Transfer credits may count toward your degree requirements, but the grades you earned at other institutions are not factored into your official UCLA GPA.

Q4: Where can I find my official GPA?

Your official GPA is available on your Degree Audit Report or your official transcript, accessible through MyUCLA. This calculator provides a highly accurate estimate for planning purposes, but the official report is the final authority. For more details on policy, visit the UCLA Catalog.