GPA

There's a lot of talk about GPA.

What is it?

This is a graphic showing an example of how a class GPA might be calculated: first assignment grade is A, plus a test grade is B, plus a second assignment grade which is an A. This equals an A- class GPA.

GPA is Grade Point Average.

A student has a GPA for each of her/his classes, and this is the total grade for the class which is calculated using the grades for all the tests, quizzes, and assignments.

Different instructors use different ways of calculating their students' GPAs. This is usually explained in the class syllabus.

Overall GPA

This is a student's average grade calculated by the College. It is computed by adding all of the student's grades in all of the classes they have completed and dividing that by the total number of classes.

Turning a Letter Grade into a GPA

Pierpont uses a 4-point, unweighted scale of grading. Unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0 that does not take the difficulty of the coursework into account. So, getting an A in a general studies course like English 1101 has the same "weight" as getting an A in more involved, program-specific courses like Physics or Petroleum Geology of Appalachia.

Below is a chart that converts letter grades to a GPA. The conversion of your personal grade to a GPA might be different, so speak to your academic advisor for accurate information.

A plus is 4.0; A is 4.0; A minus is 3.7; B plus is 3.3; B is 3.0; B minus is 2.7; C plus is 2.3; C is 2.0; C minus is 1.7; D plus is 1.3; D is 1.0; F is 0.

To find who your academic advisor is, go to the

Registering for Classes webpage and scroll down to the FAQ section.

CLICK HERE - Registering for Classes

Why is GPA Important?

Your GPA is a number that demonstrates how high you scored in your courses on average. This number is used to assess how well you learned the information in your classes and whether you meet the expectations set by a degree program or college.

A low GPA does not mean that you cannot succeed in college, or in a specific program, or in life.

It can mean that you need to take more time learning the material, that refresher classes should be taken before enrolling in a program, that you need to work with the material in a different way due to your learning style, or that you have learning disability that was not properly addressed.

Pierpont has resources to help with these things!

Program Specific Requirements

Since a GPA indicates the level of competence a student has attained in relation to learning the information presented in her/his classes, graduation is based on reaching a minimum GPA.

Certain programs can require that their students maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 (C) in either certain classes, all of their program-specific classes, or in all of their classes to graduate. (See the example below from Paralegal Studies.)

This is an example of program specific requirement for a paralegal studies class. Notice to students; A “C” or better is required for graduation in English 1104 and English 1109; A “C” or better is required for graduation in the classes PARA 1101, PARA 1102, PARA 1103, PARA 2201, and PARA 2202; and A cumulative 2.00 overall GPA is required for graduation in Paralegal Studies.

GPA & Financial Aid

Another reason that GPA is important is for financial aid.

Most financial aid resources (loans, grants, scholarships) require a student to maintain satisfactory progress (average grades - C or better) in their classes.

Check with Pierpont's Financial for more information.

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