Calculating and Raising Grade Point Averages
In order to understand NMU's grading system, a knowledge of some basic terms is needed. The grading scale at NMU is based on a four-point scale:
| Letter Grade | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- | F |
| Point Value | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
Grade point averages are calculated by:
- Multiplying the number of GPA credits (credit hours) for each course by the point value (above) of the letter grades assigned. This converts the letter grades into honor points.
- Adding the total number of credit hours. Adding the total number of honor points earned.
- Dividing the total number of honor points by the total number of credit hours. The resulting figure is the student's grade point average. The example below illustrates this for one semester.
Click here to calculate your GPA using our GPA Calculator.
| Course | GPA Credits | Grade (Honor Points) | Total Honor Points | GPA |
| EN 111 | 4 | C (2.0) | 8.0 (4 x 2.0) | |
| HS 126 | 4 | C (2.0) | 8.0 (4x2.0) | |
| BI 111 | 4 | D (1.0) | 4.0 (4x1.0) | |
| HP 200 | 1 | B (3.0) | 3.0(1x3.0) | |
| TOTAL | 13 | 23.0 | 1.77 (23.0/13) |
Because this is the student's first semester of enrollment in any college this student would be on academic warning. In the second semester, the student performs in the following manner:
|
Course |
GPA Credits |
Grade (Honor Points) |
Total Honor Points |
Semester |
Overall GPA (1)* |
|
EN 211D |
4 |
C+ (2.3) |
9.2 (4x2.3) |
||
|
HS 127 |
4 |
B- (2.7) |
10.8 (4x2.7) |
||
|
BI 111 (Repeat) |
4 |
B-(2.7) |
10.8 (4x2.7) |
||
|
MA 105 |
4 |
A-(3.7) |
14.8 (4x3.7) |
||
|
TOTAL |
16 |
45.6 |
2.85 (45.6/16) |
2.58(2)# (64.6/25) |
To determine a student's overall GPA:
- Calculate the total number of honor points
- Calculate the total number of GPA credits
- Divide the total honor points by the total GPA credits
Notes:
*The GPA credits and honor points are counted only once; for repeated courses, only the most recent honor points earned and GPA credits are included in the formula.
# Both the GPA credits and honor points for BI 111 in the first semester are excluded from the calculations because the course was repeated in the second semester. In this example, the student has accumulated 25 GPA credits (9 the first semester excluding BI 111 and 16 in the second semester including the BI 111 repeat) and 64.6 honor points (19.0 first semester after excluding BI 111 and 45.6 second including the BI 111 repeat).
