Northwestern GPA Calculator, Evanston, IL Grading Scale

Average GPA

3.55

undergraduate cumulative

Grading Scale

4.0

with plus/minus

Dean's List

3.75+

term GPA

Probation

below 2.0

cumulative GPA floor

What Is a Good GPA at Northwestern?

A GPA of 3.5 or higher is considered strong at Northwestern, where the average undergraduate GPA sits near 3.55. Each undergraduate school (Weinberg, McCormick, Medill, Bienen, SoC, SESP) sets its own Dean's List and Latin honors policy. Northwestern operates on a quarter system.

The average undergraduate GPA at Northwestern sits near 3.55, drawn from the Northwestern registrar policy and aggregated reporting. Enter your courses in the calculator above to see where your cumulative GPA lands relative to that figure.

How Northwestern Calculates GPA

Northwestern University (Northwestern) uses a 4.0 grade point scale and uses plus/minus modifiers (A-, B+, B-, and so on). The school caps A+ at the same 4.0 value as an A, which matters when converting letter grades from a transcript that records A and A+ separately. Each course's grade points multiply by its credit hours, those quality points sum across all courses, and the total divides by total credits attempted.

Northwestern GPA Formula

GPA = Sum(Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Sum(Credit Hours)

Where:

Grade Points = letter-grade value on the 4.0 scale
Credit Hours = credit value of the course on the Northwestern transcript
A+ = 4.0 (same as A on the standard scale)

Example: A 4-credit class with an A (4.0 points) and a 3-credit class with a B+ (3.3 points): quality points = 4 × 4.0 + 3 × 3.3 = 25.9, total credits = 7, GPA = 25.9 / 7 = 3.70.

Northwestern Grading Policy Notes

Northwestern operates on a quarter system rather than semesters, so a typical academic year produces three full sets of GPA-affecting grades plus optional summer courses. A+ caps at 4.0 grade points.

Northwestern Honors and Recognition

Dean's List at Northwestern

Northwestern lists students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher on the Dean's List. The honor is computed per-term, so a single strong semester earns recognition even if the cumulative GPA sits lower.

Academic Standing and Repeat Policy at Northwestern

Academic Probation Threshold

Northwestern places students on academic probation when their cumulative GPA drops below 2.0. Probation usually triggers mandatory advising, restricts course registration, and can affect financial aid or scholarships. Use the calculator to model remaining semesters and see how many A or B grades would lift the GPA back above the 2.0 floor.

Repeating a Course at Northwestern

Under Northwestern's repeat policy, the new grade replaces the old grade in the GPA calculation. This calculator treats every entered row as a distinct graded attempt; if your school replaces the old grade, leave off the original, and if both count, enter both lines. Always confirm the final transcript version with the registrar before relying on a projected GPA.

Grade Forgiveness at Northwestern

No. Northwestern does not offer grade forgiveness. Both attempts at a course count in the cumulative GPA.

Major GPA Requirements at Northwestern

Most majors require 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA. McCormick (engineering) and Medill (journalism) maintain separate program GPA floors for entry into the major.

What Makes Northwestern Grading Distinctive

Quarter system produces three GPA-affecting terms per year
Each undergraduate school sets independent honors policy
A+ recorded but capped at 4.0

Northwestern at a Glance

Institution type: private research
Location: Evanston, IL
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,161
Founded: 1851
Athletic conference: Big Ten
Average undergrad GPA: 3.55
Registrar source: Northwestern official grading policy

Related GPA Tools

To roll this Northwestern GPA into a cumulative figure across multiple semesters, use the cumulative GPA calculator. For a semester-by-semester view with optional prior-GPA import, use the college GPA calculator. To compute individual course grades before they hit your transcript, switch to the grade calculator.

Accuracy Note

This calculator follows the grading policy published by the Northwestern registrar as of 2026-04-18. Policies are reviewed periodically; the "Last verified" date in the footer reflects the most recent confirmation. Always cross-check your final GPA against your official transcript. The tool models the same formulas registrars use but cannot account for grade forgiveness petitions, audit decisions, or exceptions approved by the dean of students.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my Northwestern GPA?

Enter each Northwestern course you have taken, select your letter grade, and enter the credit hours from your transcript. The calculator converts each grade into grade points on the standard 4.0 scale, multiplies by credit hours, and divides by total credits. Northwestern uses plus/minus modifiers (A-, B+, B-, and so on) and caps A+ at the same 4.0 value as an A, which this calculator reflects by default.

What GPA do I need for the Northwestern Dean's List?

Northwestern requires a GPA of 3.75 or higher to qualify for the Dean's List. Dean's List at this school is computed term-by-term, so a single strong semester can earn recognition even if cumulative GPA is lower.

What is the GPA cutoff for academic probation at Northwestern?

At Northwestern, students fall into academic probation when their GPA drops below 2.0. Probation status typically restricts course registration, triggers mandatory advising, and may affect financial aid eligibility. Use this calculator to check where your current term and cumulative averages land relative to the 2.0 floor.

Does Northwestern award Latin honors at graduation?

Northwestern does not publish fixed Latin honors GPA thresholds that apply across all undergraduate programs. Northwestern operates on quarters, so Dean's List is computed per quarter (not semester). Latin honors are awarded by each undergraduate school separately with distinct GPA floors.

If I retake a course at Northwestern, how does it affect my GPA?

Northwestern's repeat policy is that the new grade replaces the old grade in the GPA calculation. This calculator lets you model either scenario, enter just the most recent grade to see a replace-style GPA, or enter both attempts to see how an average-counting or both-count policy would shape your transcript.