Calculate your Nigerian university CGPA and Class of Degree
| Course | Credit Units | Grade |
|---|
Nigeria grading scale reference
| Letter | Percentage | Points (5.0) | Class zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 70 to 100 | 5.0 | First Class range |
| B | 60 to 69 | 4.0 | Second Class Upper range |
| C | 50 to 59 | 3.0 | Second Class Lower range |
| D | 45 to 49 | 2.0 | Second Class Lower / Third Class boundary |
| E | 40 to 44 | 1.0 | Third Class / Pass range |
| F | 0 to 39 | 0.0 | Fail, no credit |
| Letter | Percentage | Points (4.0) | Class zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 70 to 100 | 4.0 | First Class range |
| B+ | 65 to 69 | 3.5 | First Class / 2nd Upper boundary |
| B | 60 to 64 | 3.0 | Second Class Upper range |
| C+ | 55 to 59 | 2.5 | Second Class Lower range |
| C | 50 to 54 | 2.0 | Second Class Lower / Third Class |
| D | 45 to 49 | 1.0 | Pass range |
| F | 0 to 44 | 0.0 | Fail, no credit |
5.0 scale is the NUC standard used at UNILAG, OAU, UI, ABU, UNN, and most federal and state universities. Class of Degree (5.0 scale): First Class (CGPA 4.50 to 5.00), Second Class Upper (3.50 to 4.49), Second Class Lower (2.40 to 3.49), Third Class (1.50 to 2.39), Pass (1.00 to 1.49), Fail (below 1.00). 4.0 scale is used at Covenant University, Babcock University, and AUN.
How CGPA Is Calculated at Nigerian Universities
Nigerian universities calculate CGPA using the credit-weighted average formula endorsed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the federal regulatory body for university education in Nigeria. The formula is identical in structure to the standard GPA formula: multiply each course's grade points by its credit units, sum all the products to get total quality points, then divide by the total credit units attempted.
- Grade Points = numeric point value from the grading scale (5.0 scale: A = 5.0, B = 4.0, C = 3.0, D = 2.0, E = 1.0, F = 0.0)
- Credit Units = the number of units the course carries on your transcript (typically 2 to 4 units per course at most Nigerian universities)
- Sum = totalled across all courses in the calculation period (one semester for GPA, all semesters for CGPA)
Credit unit weighting has a substantial effect on CGPA. A 4-unit core engineering course moves the average four times as much as a 1-unit laboratory or tutorial. Nigerian students targeting First Class (CGPA 4.50 or above on the 5.0 scale) should concentrate improvement on the high-credit compulsory courses in their faculty rather than low-credit electives. Use the calculator above to model exactly how each course affects your running CGPA before and after examinations.
Nigeria University Grading Scale: 5.0 and 4.0
The Nigerian university grading system is divided between two scales. The 5.0 scale is the NUC standard for federal and state universities and gives a maximum grade point of 5.0 for the highest grade (A), which starts at 70 percent. The 4.0 scale is used at a smaller group of private universities that align more closely with the US liberal arts model. Both scales use a Class of Degree (honours) classification system modelled on the UK degree framework.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | Grade Points (5.0) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 70 to 100% | 5.0 | Excellent / Distinction |
| B | 60 to 69% | 4.0 | Very Good |
| C | 50 to 59% | 3.0 | Good / Average |
| D | 45 to 49% | 2.0 | Satisfactory / Bare Pass |
| E | 40 to 44% | 1.0 | Weak Pass |
| F | 0 to 39% | 0.0 | Fail, no credit awarded |
The 40 percent threshold as the minimum passing mark (grade E = 1.0) is the NUC baseline for federal and state universities. Some professional faculties, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, and Engineering, impose a higher internal pass threshold; a student who scores below the faculty minimum in a core course must repeat it regardless of their overall CGPA. The 4.0 scale at private universities sets the passing threshold at 45 percent (grade D = 1.0), meaning an F grade covers 0 to 44 percent in that system.
Class of Degree in Nigeria
Nigeria uses a Class of Degree system for bachelor's degrees, closely modelled on the UK honours classification framework. The classification is based on the student's final CGPA. The NUC specifies the following thresholds for the 5.0 scale, which apply at all NUC-accredited federal and state universities:
| Class of Degree | CGPA Range (5.0) | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| First Class | 4.50 to 5.00 | Competitive scholarships, PhD direct entry, academic career positions, top graduate schemes |
| Second Class Upper (2:1) | 3.50 to 4.49 | Graduate employment, NYSC competitive placements, postgraduate admission, civil service professional cadre |
| Second Class Lower (2:2) | 2.40 to 3.49 | Standard graduation, most master's programme minimum requirement, many graduate trainee programmes |
| Third Class | 1.50 to 2.39 | Meets graduation requirement; limited postgraduate eligibility at most institutions |
| Pass | 1.00 to 1.49 | Meets minimum graduation threshold at some faculties; does not qualify for most professional or postgraduate schemes |
| Fail | Below 1.00 | Degree not awarded; student must repeat courses or repeat the year per faculty regulations |
Second Class Upper (2:1) is the standard minimum qualification for competitive graduate employment in Nigeria. The Nigerian Civil Service, major banks, oil and gas companies, and multinational corporations operating in Nigeria typically specify 2:1 or First Class as the entry threshold for their graduate trainee programmes. For overseas applications, a Nigerian First Class or 2:1 from an NUC-accredited institution is generally recognised by UK universities, Canadian institutions, and most US graduate programmes when accompanied by a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES).
Major Nigerian Universities
The eight universities below represent the largest and most widely recognised institutions in Nigeria for both domestic admission and international credential evaluation. Five use the NUC-standard 5.0 CGPA scale; three operate on the 4.0 scale. Use the correct calculator mode for your institution to ensure accurate results.
| University | Abbreviation | City | CGPA Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Lagos | UNILAG | Lagos | 5.0 |
| Obafemi Awolowo University | OAU | Ile-Ife | 5.0 |
| University of Ibadan | UI | Ibadan | 5.0 |
| Ahmadu Bello University | ABU | Zaria | 5.0 |
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka | UNN | Nsukka | 5.0 |
| Covenant University | CU | Ota | 4.0 |
| American University of Nigeria | AUN | Yola | 4.0 |
| Babcock University | Babcock | Ilishan-Remo | 4.0 |
Authoritative sources for this page: the National Universities Commission (NUC) minimum academic standards; the University of Lagos Registrar; the OAU Registrar; and World Education Services (WES) for the international credential evaluation context.
Convert Nigerian CGPA to US 4.0 GPA
Converting a Nigerian CGPA from the 5.0 scale to the US 4.0 scale requires multiplying by 0.8 (the ratio of 4.0 to 5.0). This proportional conversion preserves the relative standing of the student on their scale while mapping it to the US maximum.
- Nigerian CGPA = your cumulative grade point average on the 5.0 scale
- Result is capped at 4.00 (a perfect 5.0 CGPA converts to 4.00 US GPA)
- Example: CGPA 4.50 / 5.00 converts to 4.50 x 0.8 = 3.60 / 4.00
- Example: CGPA 3.50 / 5.00 converts to 3.50 x 0.8 = 2.80 / 4.00
The calculator on this page performs this conversion automatically in the result panel. For students at universities on the 4.0 scale (Covenant, Babcock, AUN), no conversion factor is needed since both scales share the same maximum.
For binding US graduate school applications, WES is the most widely accepted credential evaluator for Nigerian applicants. WES evaluates the official transcript against the institutional grading key and does not simply apply the 0.8 multiplier uniformly. Some US universities with large numbers of Nigerian applicants have their own internal conversion tables. For UK postgraduate applications, a Nigerian First Class (4.50+ / 5.00) is generally treated as equivalent to a UK First Class Honours, and a 2:1 (3.50 to 4.49 / 5.00) maps to a UK Upper Second Class degree.
This Nigeria GPA calculator estimates your CGPA and Class of Degree using the NUC-standard 5.0 grading scale and the 4.0 scale for private universities. Individual universities may apply institution-specific rules for grade replacement, credit transfers, supplementary examinations, carry-overs, and the weighting of final-year results in degree classification. Always verify your academic standing with your faculty registrar before making decisions about graduation, appeals, postgraduate applications, or NYSC deployment. For binding overseas credential evaluations, consult World Education Services (WES) or the equivalent body for your destination country. Last verified 23 May 2026.