How UW–Madison calculates your GPA
- Each grade has a fixed number of grade points per credit, from 4 for an A down to 0 for an F (table below).
- Grade points × the credits of the course gives the points that course adds.
- All points added up, ÷ all credits with a grade from A through F, is the GPA.
The GPA uses only credits taken at UW–Madison with grades A through F. Pass/fail (S or U), credit/no credit (CR or N), incompletes, W and the other non-letter grades are left out, and so are transfer courses and credit by exam, which appear on the transcript as T. Leave them out of the calculator too.
UW–Madison grade points, including AB and BC
| Grade | Meaning | Grade points per credit |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 4 |
| AB | Intermediate grade | 3.5 |
| B | Good | 3 |
| BC | Intermediate grade | 2.5 |
| C | Fair | 2 |
| D | Poor | 1 |
| F | Failure | 0 |
Semester grades are reported by letter only: there is no A−, no B+ and no CD. An AB sits exactly halfway between an A and a B, so it is worth more than the B+ (3.33) most other schools give. The highest possible GPA is 4.0.
Why a standard GPA calculator gets UW wrong
Most GPA calculators offer only plus-minus grades. Type an AB as a B+ and a BC as a C+ and every intermediate grade loses about a sixth of a point. On the semester in the example below that turns a 3.17 into a 3.09.
Repeating a course: every grade stays in
Undergraduates may repeat any course, but the first grade is not replaced. All grades from A through F and their grade points stay in the GPA; the credits count only once for any other purpose. An F counts as 0 grade points and stays on the transcript and in the GPA even after a repeat. Ask your dean’s office about extra rules before you plan one. In the calculator, keep the old grade inside the current GPA you typed in and enter the repeat as one more row.
Worked example: a UW repeat after an F
A sophomore has a 3.20 UW GPA on 45 credits, which is 144.00 grade points. That record includes an F in a 3-credit course. This semester: the repeated course, 3 credits, AB; Calculus, 5 credits, B; Chemistry, 4 credits, BC; English, 3 credits, A.
Semester: 10.50 + 15.00 + 10.00 + 12.00 = 47.50 grade points on 15 credits, a 3.17. Cumulative: the F stays, so 144.00 + 47.50 = 191.50 points on 45 + 15 = 60 credits, a 3.19. A calculator that drops the F would show 191.50 ÷ 57 = 3.36, a number your UW record will not show.
Graduate students
The Graduate School uses the same 4.00 scale, and if you repeat a course both grades are used in the graduate GPA. Which credits count toward a graduate degree, and the GPA your program requires, follow Graduate School and program rules. This page is built for the undergraduate GPA only.
UW–Madison GPA questions
What is an AB grade at UW–Madison?
AB is an intermediate grade between A and B, worth 3.5 grade points per credit. BC, between B and C, is worth 2.5. UW–Madison reports semester grades by letter only, with no plus or minus signs.
Is there a CD grade at UW–Madison?
No. The official scale is A, AB, B, BC, C, D and F. Between C (2) and D (1) there is no intermediate grade, so a calculator that offers CD or C− does not match the UW scale.
Does retaking a class replace the old grade at UW–Madison?
No. Undergraduates may repeat any course, and all grades from A through F stay in the GPA with their grade points; the credits count only once for any other purpose. An F stays on the transcript and in the GPA.
Do pass/fail and transfer courses count in my UW GPA?
No. S and U (pass/fail) and CR or N (credit/no credit) are left out of the GPA. Transfer courses and credit by exam carry no grade points and appear on the transcript as T.
Can a UW–Madison GPA be higher than 4.0?
No. The highest possible GPA is 4.0, an A in every course, and the lowest is 0.0. There is no A+ and no extra weight for honors courses in the university GPA.
Sources for the UW–Madison GPA rules
- UW–Madison Undergraduate Guide 2026–27, Enrollment and Records (Grading System table, grades left out of the GPA, failures; fetched October 10, 2026)
- UW–Madison Office of the Registrar, Student Grading and GPA (letters only, transfer and exam credit, repeated courses; fetched October 10, 2026)
- UW–Madison Graduate School, Grading (graduate repeats; fetched October 10, 2026)
Your official GPA is the one on your UW–Madison record. For another school’s scale, use the college GPA calculator; at the University of Florida, the UF GPA calculator; for grade cut-offs in percent, the grading scale.