Repeated Course GPA Calculator
Calculate how retaking a course affects your GPA under different policies: grade replacement, GPA averaging, or both grades counted.
Grade Forgiveness Calculator
See how grade forgiveness or grade replacement affects your GPA. Compare your current GPA to what it would be after retaking courses under forgiveness policies.
Courses to Retake
New GPA⧉
2.92
Change: +0.115
QP Gained⧉
6.9
From grade replacement
Original GPA⧉
2.80
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Grade Forgiveness Calculator
Grade forgiveness policies allow students to retake a course and have only the new grade count in their GPA. The original grade is typically marked on the transcript but excluded from GPA calculation. This calculator shows the GPA impact of retaking one or more courses under such policies.
Forgiveness policies vary widely. Some schools only allow replacement if the new grade is higher. Others replace regardless. Some limit the number of courses eligible (often 3–4 over an academic career). This calculator models the most common scenario: the old grade's quality points are removed and replaced with the new grade's quality points.
Enter your current GPA, total credits, and the courses you're retaking with their old and expected new grades. The result shows the before-and-after GPA change so you can judge whether the retake is worth the tuition and time.
When This Page Helps
Grade forgiveness can be a powerful GPA recovery tool, but only if the new grade is significantly better. Replacing a C with a B raises GPA less than replacing a D with an A. This calculator helps you decide whether retaking a course is worth the time and tuition.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits.
- Enter each course you plan to retake.
- Specify the original grade and the credit hours.
- Select the expected new grade.
- Compare the projected GPA to your current GPA.
- Decide which courses give the biggest GPA boost.
Formula used
New GPA = (Current QP − Old QP + New QP) ÷ Total Credits
Old QP = Old Grade Value × Credits
New QP = New Grade Value × Credits
Credits stay the same (course only counted once)Example Calculation
Result: 2.92
Current QP = 2.8 × 60 = 168. Old QP = 1.0 × 3 = 3. New QP = 3.3 × 3 = 9.9. Adjusted QP = 168 − 3 + 9.9 = 174.9. GPA = 174.9/60 = 2.915 ≈ 2.92. The replacement gained 0.12 GPA points.
Tips & Best Practices
- Retaking D/F grades yields the biggest GPA improvement per course.
- Retaking a B to get an A gains only 0.05–0.07 GPA points for a 3-credit course with 60 total credits.
- Check your school's limit on forgiveness-eligible courses.
- Some graduate programs still see both grades on your transcript, even if forgiveness is applied.
- Financial aid implications: retaking courses may affect satisfactory academic progress requirements.
- Some schools only grant forgiveness if the second attempt is at the same institution.
Understanding Forgiveness Policies
Not all grade forgiveness is equal. Some schools replace the grade automatically. Others require a petition. Some retroactively forgive old grades (“fresh start” or “academic renewal”) for students returning after a long absence. Each type has different rules about which grades qualify and how the GPA is recalculated.
Strategic Use of Forgiveness
Prioritize retaking courses where the grade improvement is largest *and* the credit hours are highest. A 4-credit course with an F (0.0) replaced by a B (3.0) adds 12 quality points — far more than a 1-credit course with a D (1.0) replaced by an A (4.0), which adds only 3 points.
Financial Considerations
Retaking a course means paying tuition again and spending a semester slot. Weigh the GPA benefit against the cost. If raising your GPA from 2.8 to 2.92 doesn't change your eligibility for anything meaningful (scholarships, admission, academic standing), the investment may not be worthwhile.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
Grade forgiveness is a policy where retaking a course replaces the original grade in GPA calculations. The original grade typically remains on the transcript but is excluded from the GPA. Policies vary by institution.
It varies. Many schools allow 3–4 course replacements during an undergraduate career. Some have no limit. Graduate programs may have different policies. Check your school's academic catalog.
Usually not. Most schools keep the original grade on the transcript with a notation like "E" (excluded) or "R" (replaced). The grade appears but doesn't affect GPA. Some graduate schools may still consider it.
Mathematically, replacing a C (2.0) with a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course with 60 total credits only raises GPA by 0.05. It might not be worth the time and tuition. Replacing D or F grades gives a much bigger impact.
Typically, grade forgiveness only applies to courses retaken at the same institution. Transfer credits may not be eligible for the home institution's forgiveness policy.
Yes. Once the old grade is replaced in GPA calculations, your new GPA is used for all purposes including honors determination, scholarship eligibility, and academic standing.
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