Calculating your GPA &
Understanding your Transcript
Step One – Calculating Grade Points
 Write down the (anticipated) grade and number of Grade Point Average (GPA) units for each course.
 Check the chart to the right for the grade points assigned to each grade.
 Multiply the GPA units by the grade points to equal total points.
Course
CRJ 2
GEOL 77
GPHD 10
HIST 5
Grade
DD
F
CTOTAL
GPA Units
3.000
3.000
3.000
3.000
12.000
x
x
x
x
x
x
Grade points
0.700
1.000
0.000
1.700
3.400
=
=
=
=
=
=
Total Points
2.100
3.000
o.000
5.100
10.200
Step Two – Calculating the Term GPA
 Divide the total points by the GPA units to calculate term GPA.
Term GPA is for that specific semester.
Total Points
10.200
÷
÷
GPA Units
12.000
Grade
Grade Points
A……………………….…4 points
A-………………........…….…. 3.7
B+…………….………..……… 3.3
B……….……..….…..………. 3.0
B-………….….……………….. 2.7
=
=
GPA
0.850
Step Three – Calculating the CSUS GPA
 To determine the CSUS GPA, access your unofficial transcript for your previous GPA.
 Add your anticipated term GPA to both the units and total points.
 Divide total points by total GPA units for CSUS GPA.
Total Points ÷ GPA Units =
GPA
8.100
÷ 9*
= 0.900 (first semester)
34.800
÷ 12
= 2.900 (second semester)
25.200
÷ 10
= 2.520 (current semester)
68.100
÷ 28
= 2.432 (CSUS GPA)
*CRJ 2 was repeated and excluded from 1st semester GPA
C+……….…….……..……..… 2.3
C……………………….………. 2.0
C-……………….………..……. 1.7
D+…………………….…….…. 1.3
D……………………….………. 1.0
D-………………………….…… 0.7
F: Failed………………........… 0
WU: Unauthorized
Withdraw………………..…..0
The Transcript
W: Withdrawal………….. N/A
To view your unofficial transcript, go to your MySacState Student Center and
select Transcript: view unofficial (example on back).
I: Incomplete………....…. N/A
Terminology – six columns
Course:
the course code and number
Description:
name of the course
Attempted:
number of units the course was worth
Earned:
number of units earned (must pass the course to earn units)
Grade:
given by the professor based on performance
Points:
points awarded based on the grade earned
CR: Credit…………......... N/A
NC: No Credit….............N/A
Grade Point Average (GPA) – three types
Term:
for the specific term (Fall, Winter Intercession, Spring or Summer)
CSUS:
combined GPA of all terms at Sacramento State
Cumulative:
combined GPA of transfer credit (if applicable) and CSUS GPA
Academic Standing – based on your GPA and is assigned each term. In order to graduate you must be in ‘Good
Standing’ with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Other standings include: Academic Probation, Continued Probation and Academic
Disqualification; please speak with an advisor if you have one of these standings.
Transfer credit – is posted at the top of the transcript. The name of the institution, cumulative GPA, total attempted
units, earned units, and grade points will be summarized.
Example of a Transcript
Name:
Student
Student ID:
Institution Info:
XXXXXXXXX
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
XXX-XX-7477
SSN:
Transfer Credits
Transfer Credit from Cosumnes River College
Applied Toward Undergraduate Degree
Course Trans GPA:
3.500
Transfer Totals:
Attempted
6.000
Earned
6.000
Points
21.000
Beginning of Undergraduate Record
Fall
Program:
Plan:
Session:
Course
CRJ
*Repeated:
GEOL
GPHD
HIST
Undergraduate Degree
Major: Undeclared Major
Regular
Attempted
3.000
Earned
0.000
Grade
D-
Points
0.000
3.000
3.000
3.000
3.000
0.000
3.000
D
F
C-
3.000
0.000
5.100
Attempted
Term GPA
0.900
Term Totals
12.000
CSUS GPA
0.900
CSUS Totals
12.000
Cumulative GPA
1.940
Cum Totals
18.000
Academic Standing Effective 2010-01-07: ACADEMIC PROBATION
Earned
6.000
6.000
12.000
GPA Units
9.000
9.000
15.000
Points
8.100
8.100
29.100
Earned
3.000
3.000
3.000
Grade
A
D+
B+
Points
12.000
3.900
9.900
3.000
B
9.000
2
77
10
5
Description
Law Of Crimes
Course Repeated - Excluded GPA
Age Of Dinosaurs
Intro To Digital Design
Survy Modrn West Civilztn
Spring
Program:
Plan:
Session:
Course
ENGL
GEOG
CRJ
*Repeated:
PHIL
Undergraduate Degree
Major: Undeclared Major
Regular
1A
1
2
2
Description
Attempted
College Composition
3.000
Physical Geography
3.000
Law of Crimes
3.000
First Repeat Course - Included in GPA
Ethics
3.000
Term GPA
2.900
Term Totals
CSUS GPA
2.042
CSUS Totals
Cumulative GPA
2.366
Cum Totals
Academic Standing Effective 2010-05-27: GOOD STANDING
Attempted
12.000
24.000
30.000
Earned
12.000
18.000
24.000
GPA Units
12.000
21.000
27.000
Points
34.800
42.900
63.900
* At Sacramento State students can only repeat courses in which they received the grade of ‘C-‘ or lower. This student
repeated CRJ 2. A repeat notation is indicated under the first attempt. After the Spring grades were posted the earned
units, GPA units, and grade points of CRJ 2 were subtracted from the Fall term and CSUS GPA. Although the original
grade of ‘D-‘ is no longer being accounted for in the GPA calculation the letter grade remains on the transcript. If a course
is repeated a repeat notation also appears under the second attempt. For the Spring term the units are being counted in
both the earned and GPA unit columns and the points are being calculated in all three GPA totals.