How to Convert Letter Grades & Percentages to GPA

Letter grades, percentages, and 4.0 points are three ways to describe the same result. Here is how to convert between them.

The standard 4.0 conversion table

Most U.S. schools use this plus/minus mapping. Percentages assume a 10-point scale where 90–100 is an A.

A+ 4.3 (97–100) · A 4.0 (93–96) · A− 3.7 (90–92) · B+ 3.3 (87–89) · B 3.0 (83–86) · B− 2.7 (80–82) · C+ 2.3 (77–79) · C 2.0 (73–76) · C− 1.7 (70–72) · D+ 1.3 (67–69) · D 1.0 (63–66) · D− 0.7 (60–62) · F 0 (below 60)

Percentage to letter

Find which band the percentage falls into — 90+ is an A, 80–89 a B, 70–79 a C, 60–69 a D, below 60 an F — then apply the plus/minus cutoff inside each band (87+ is B+, 83–86 is B, 80–82 is B−).

Letter to 4.0 points

Use the table directly: B+ = 3.3, A− = 3.7, and so on. Some schools cap A+ at 4.0 instead of 4.3 — follow your transcript policy.

Percentage to 4.0 points

First convert the percentage to a letter using the bands above, then read off its points. There is no single universal formula, so the band method is the reliable one.

Putting it together

Once every course is expressed as 4.0 points, average them by credit hours to get your GPA. This conversion is the first step of any GPA calculation.

Frequently asked questions

Is 4.3 or 4.0 the highest GPA?

On a strict 4.0 scale an A is 4.0; many schools still assign 4.3 to an A+, which is sometimes called a 4.3 scale.

How do I convert 89.5% to a GPA?

It is a B+ band (87–89 for plus, but cutoffs vary) — check your school's exact boundaries. Most would call 89.5 a B+ = 3.3.

Why do different calculators give different conversions?

Schools set their own percentage-to-letter cutoffs. Use your syllabus or transcript legend as the source of truth.