USC Grade Calculator (University of Southern California)

The Definitive Guide to Your USC GPA

If you’re searching for a **USC grade calculator**, **grade calculator USC**, or even a **USC Viterbi GPA calculator**, you've come to the right place. Understanding how to calculate your Grade Point Average at the University of Southern California is fundamental to tracking your academic progress, planning your major, and preparing for future opportunities like graduate school or competitive careers. This guide, complete with our powerful interactive tool, demystifies the entire process, ensuring you have a clear and accurate picture of your academic standing.

Understanding USC’s Grading System: The 4.0 Scale

At its core, USC's grading system is based on a 4.0 scale where each letter grade corresponds to a specific number of "grade points." Your GPA is not just an average of your grades; it's a weighted average based on the "units" (or credits) of each course. The official formula is simple yet precise:

GPA = Total Grade Points ÷ Total Attempted Units

Crucially, only courses with letter grades (A through F) are counted as "Attempted Units." Courses taken as Pass/No Pass (P/NP) or those with notations like W (Withdrawal), I (Incomplete), or NR (No Record) are excluded from the GPA calculation.

Official USC Grade Scale Table (4.0 Scale)

This is the official conversion chart used by the university to translate letter grades into grade points. Our **USC GPA calculator** uses these exact values for maximum accuracy.

How to Calculate GPA at USC: A Step-by-Step Example

Let's walk through a sample semester to see the formula in action.

1. List Your Courses and Units: Note down each course and its corresponding number of units.
2. Convert Grades to Grade Points: Use the table above to find the grade point value for each letter grade.
3. Calculate Total Grade Points: For each course, multiply its units by the grade points earned. Sum these values together.
4. Calculate Total Attempted Units: Add up the units for all your graded courses.
5. Divide: Divide your Total Grade Points by your Total Attempted Units to get your GPA.

Sample Semester Calculation:

• WRIT 150 (4 units): Grade A- (3.7) → 4 × 3.7 = 14.8 grade points
• MATH 125 (4 units): Grade B (3.0) → 4 × 3.0 = 12.0 grade points
• CSCI 103 (4 units): Grade B+ (3.3) → 4 × 3.3 = 13.2 grade points
• ITP 101 (2 units): Graded 'P' (Pass) → Excluded from GPA calculation

Total Attempted Units = 4 + 4 + 4 = 12
Total Grade Points = 14.8 + 12.0 + 13.2 = 40.0

Semester GPA = 40.0 ÷ 12 = 3.33

Exploring the Features of Our USC Grade Calculator

Our tool is more than just a simple GPA calculator; it's a suite of calculators designed for the specific needs of USC students.

A. USC Term and Cumulative GPA Calculator

This is the primary mode. You can calculate your GPA for a single semester or input your existing cumulative GPA and units to see how your current semester will impact your overall academic standing. This is essential for tracking progress toward graduation or honors.

B. USC Weighted Grade Calculator

Ever wondered what grade you need on your final to get an A in a class? This mode lets you calculate your final grade in a single course. You can enter different assignments (like midterms, homework, final exam) and their percentage weights to see your current standing and what's required on remaining assignments.

C. USC Grade Forgiveness Calculator

USC has a Grade Forgiveness policy that allows students to repeat a course and have the new grade replace the old one in their GPA calculation. Our **USC grade forgiveness calculator** simulates this. Simply enter the course units, your original grade, and your new grade to see the direct impact on your GPA.

USC Admission Requirements and GPA Expectations

For prospective students, understanding GPA context is vital. While USC practices holistic admissions, academic performance is a cornerstone of any application.

Undergraduate Admission

Competitive applicants typically present a very strong high school GPA, with a transcript filled mostly with 'A' grades in challenging courses (AP, IB, Honors). While there's no "magic number," the average GPA for admitted students is often in the 3.8-4.0 range.

Graduate Admission

Requirements vary significantly by program. Most graduate programs at USC require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. However, competitive programs, especially in fields like engineering (Viterbi) or business (Marshall), often have average admitted GPAs well above 3.5.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How does the USC grading scale compare to a percentage?

USC does not officially convert its 4.0 scale to percentages. However, a common unofficial estimation is A (93-100%), A- (90-92%), B+ (87-89%), B (83-86%), and so on. Our **USC final grade calculator** can help you convert raw scores into a final percentage.

Q2: Does the USC Viterbi School of Engineering use a different GPA scale?

No, the **USC Viterbi gpa calculator** uses the same official 4.0 university-wide scale. However, specific departments within Viterbi may have higher internal GPA requirements for maintaining good academic standing or for admission into the major.

Q3: What happens if I withdraw from a course?

A "W" on your transcript indicates a withdrawal and has no impact on your GPA. It does not count as "Attempted Units." However, having too many 'W's can be a red flag for graduate schools or employers.

Q4: Where can I find the official USC GPA policies?

The most reliable source is the official USC Catalogue. You can find detailed information on grading policies, academic standing, and the grade forgiveness process at catalogue.usc.edu.