{
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  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "How do you calculate your cumulative GPA?",
  "description": "Add the quality points from every semester and divide by total credits attempted — don't average your semester GPAs. A 3.20 semester (15 credits) plus a 3.60 semester (15 credits) plus a 3.00 semester (12 credits) is (48 + 54 + 36) ÷ 42 = 3.29.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/how-to-calculate-cumulative-gpa",
  "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
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  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "Cumulative GPA Calculator",
    "GPA Raise Planner",
    "High School GPA Calculator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
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  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "How do you calculate your cumulative GPA?",
    "shortAnswer": "Add the quality points from every semester and divide by total credits attempted — don't average your semester GPAs. A 3.20 semester (15 credits) plus a 3.60 semester (15 credits) plus a 3.00 semester (12 credits) is (48 + 54 + 36) ÷ 42 = 3.29.",
    "tableTitle": "Why averaging semesters gets it wrong",
    "columns": [
      "Method",
      "Calculation",
      "Result"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "Wrong: average the GPAs",
        "value": "(3.20 + 3.60 + 3.00) ÷ 3",
        "note": "3.27"
      },
      {
        "label": "Right: quality points ÷ credits",
        "value": "(48 + 54 + 36) ÷ 42",
        "note": "3.29"
      },
      {
        "label": "Difference grows when",
        "value": "Credit loads differ",
        "note": "Heavy low-GPA terms drag more"
      }
    ],
    "context": "Averaging semester GPAs only works when every semester has identical credit hours, which almost never happens. The credit-weighted method also explains why raising a cumulative GPA gets harder over time: with 90 credits banked at 3.0, even a perfect 4.0 semester (15 credits) only lifts you to 3.14. Use that math to set realistic targets — a GPA-raise plan is a multi-semester project once you're past halfway.",
    "methodology": "Cumulative GPA = Σ(all quality points ever earned) ÷ Σ(all credits attempted). Repeated courses: most schools replace the original grade under a grade-forgiveness policy, but some average both attempts — check your registrar's rule.",
    "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
    "relatedCalculators": [
      {
        "label": "Cumulative GPA Calculator",
        "to": "/cumulative-gpa-calculator"
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      {
        "label": "GPA Raise Planner",
        "to": "/gpa-raise-planner-calculator"
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      {
        "label": "High School GPA Calculator",
        "to": "/high-school-gpa-calculator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "How to calculate GPA from letter grades",
        "to": "/answers/how-to-calculate-gpa-from-letter-grades"
      }
    ]
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}