GPA Calculator LSU: How to Calculate Your LSU GPA

This GPA calculator for LSU lets you enter your course credit hours and letter grades to compute your semester and cumulative grade point average using LSU’s official grading scale. You input each course’s credit hours (typically 1–4) and select a grade (A, A-, B+, etc.), and the calculator returns your term GPA and, if you provide prior hours and GPA, your updated cumulative GPA. The result is the same number you’ll see on your LSU transcript, rounded to two decimal places.

Formula

LSU calculates GPA by dividing total grade points by total credit hours attempted. The formula is:

GPA = (Grade Points Earned) ÷ (Credit Hours Attempted)

Each letter grade carries a point value per credit hour:

• A = 4.0
• A- = 3.7
• B+ = 3.3
• B = 3.0
• B- = 2.7
• C+ = 2.3
• C = 2.0
• C- = 1.7
• D+ = 1.3
• D = 1.0
• F = 0.0

For each course, multiply the grade point value by the credit hours. Sum those products across all courses, then divide by the total credit hours. For a cumulative GPA, add your prior grade points (prior GPA × prior hours) to the new term grade points, then divide by the total hours (prior hours + new hours).

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator above:

• Course 1: 3 credits, A (4.0) → 12.0 grade points
• Course 2: 3 credits, A- (3.7) → 11.1 grade points
• Course 3: 3 credits, B+ (3.3) → 9.9 grade points
• Course 4: 3 credits, B (3.0) → 9.0 grade points

Total grade points = 12.0 + 11.1 + 9.9 + 9.0 = 42.0. Total credit hours = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. Term GPA = 42.0 ÷ 12 = 3.50. With no prior hours, the cumulative GPA is also 3.50.

How LSU’s Grading Scale Works

LSU uses a plus/minus system, unlike some universities that only assign whole-letter grades. The difference between an A- (3.7) and an A (4.0) may seem small, but over a 15-credit semester, that 0.3 difference per course can move your GPA by several hundredths. For example, getting three A- grades instead of three A grades in a 12-credit term lowers your GPA from 4.0 to 3.7 — a meaningful drop for scholarships or honors programs.

Also note that LSU does not award grade points for courses taken pass/fail or for transfer credits. Those courses count toward your degree but not your LSU GPA. The same applies to repeated courses: LSU’s grade replacement policy may exclude the original grade from your GPA under certain conditions, but that policy has specific rules, so check the current catalog.

How to Use the Calculator for Your Specific Situation

Start by listing all courses you’re taking this semester. For each course, enter the credit hours (usually 3 for a standard course, but labs may be 1–2, and some classes are 4). Then select the grade you expect or have received. If you’re planning ahead, you can try different grade scenarios to see how many A’s you need to reach a target GPA.

To calculate your cumulative GPA, you’ll need your current earned hours and GPA from your LSU transcript. These appear on your unofficial transcript under “Total Hours� and “Cumulative GPA.� Enter those in the “Prior Earned Hours� and “Prior GPA� fields, and the calculator will combine them with your current term to show your new cumulative GPA.

Common Mistakes When Calculating GPA

• Using the wrong grade point values: Some students use a 4.0 scale without plus/minus, giving A- the same value as A. That overstates your GPA.
• Forgetting about credit hours: A course with 4 credits weighs more than a 2-credit course. Averaging grades without weighting by hours is incorrect.
• Including transfer or pass/fail courses: These do not factor into your LSU GPA, so including them skews the result.
• Rounding too early: Compute with full precision, then round only the final result to two decimals. Rounding each course’s grade points first can change the final GPA by 0.01 or more.

How to Read Your Result

Your term GPA is the number that appears on your transcript for that semester. It tells you how well you did in that specific term. Your cumulative GPA is the average across all LSU courses you’ve taken. Both are used for academic standing, probation, honors, scholarships, and graduate school applications. A 3.0 is typically the minimum for many scholarships, while a 3.5 or higher is often needed for competitive programs.

If your GPA is below 2.0, you may be placed on academic probation. If it’s above 3.0, you may qualify for the Dean’s List (usually 3.5 or higher, depending on the college). Always check your specific college’s requirements, as some have stricter thresholds.

Limitations of the Formula

The standard GPA formula assumes all courses are taken for a letter grade and that each credit hour carries equal weight. It does not account for:

• Courses taken pass/fail (no grade points)
• Withdrawals (W) or incompletes (I) — these do not affect GPA
• Repeated courses where LSU’s grade replacement policy applies
• Audited courses (no credit, no grade)

Additionally, LSU may have specific rules for certain programs (e.g., engineering or business) that require a minimum GPA in major courses separately. The formula above gives your overall GPA, not your major GPA. For major GPA, you would only include the courses that count toward your major, using the same calculation method.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good GPA at LSU?

A 3.0 is generally considered average-to-good, while a 3.5 or above is excellent and may qualify for honors. The average GPA for LSU undergraduates is around 3.0–3.2, but that varies by college. For competitive graduate programs, aim for 3.5+.

Does LSU round GPA up?

No. LSU reports GPA to two decimal places without rounding up. A 3.999 is reported as 3.99, not 4.00. This is standard practice at most universities.

How do I calculate my LSU GPA with a repeated course?

LSU’s policy allows you to repeat a course and have the new grade replace the old one in your GPA, provided you meet certain conditions (e.g., you must repeat the same course, and you can only replace a limited number of courses). The old grade remains on your transcript but is excluded from GPA calculation. To calculate, simply use the new grade and do not include the old one in your total hours or points.

Do transfer credits affect my LSU GPA?

No. Transfer credits appear on your transcript but are not included in your LSU GPA. Only courses taken at LSU with letter grades count toward your GPA. Your cumulative GPA at LSU starts fresh with your first semester at LSU.

How do I find my current LSU GPA?

Log into myLSU, go to the Student Center, and view your unofficial transcript. It will show your term and cumulative GPA. You can also use this calculator with your prior hours and GPA to project future GPAs.

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in c1 | Course 1 Credits | - | 3 | 0
in g1 | Course 1 Grade | - | 4.0 | 0
in c2 | Course 2 Credits | - | 3 | 0
in g2 | Course 2 Grade | - | 3.7 | 0
in c3 | Course 3 Credits | - | 3 | 0
in g3 | Course 3 Grade | - | 3.3 | 0
in c4 | Course 4 Credits | - | 3 | 0
in g4 | Course 4 Grade | - | 3.0 | 0
in prior_hours | Prior Earned Hours | - | 0 | 0
in prior_gpa | Prior GPA | - | 0.0 | 0
out term_gpa | Term GPA | - | (g1*c1 + g2*c2 + g3*c3 + g4*c4) / (c1 + c2 + c3 + c4) | 2
out cum_gpa | Cumulative GPA | - | (prior_gpa * prior_hours + (g1*c1 + g2*c2 + g3*c3 + g4*c4)) / (prior_hours + c1 + c2 + c3 + c4) | 2