A grade point average (GPA) calculation tool specific to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville assists students in determining their academic standing. It typically utilizes the university’s grading scale, which assigns numerical values to letter grades (e.g., A = 4.0, B = 3.0). By inputting earned grades and credit hours for each course, students can obtain an accurate and current GPA. For example, a student earning an A in a 3-credit-hour course and a B in a 4-credit-hour course would calculate their GPA by multiplying the grade points by the credit hours for each course, summing these products, and then dividing by the total number of credit hours.
This computational resource provides students with crucial information for tracking academic progress, identifying areas needing improvement, and projecting future performance. Understanding GPA is essential for scholarship eligibility, graduate school applications, and certain career paths. Historically, GPAs have become a standardized measure of academic achievement, enabling institutions to compare students across diverse educational backgrounds.