CGPA vs GPA: What's the Difference?
Confused about CGPA and GPA? Learn the key differences, when each is used, and which one matters most for jobs, graduate school, and scholarships.
Educational estimates — verify with your institution.
What Is GPA vs CGPA?
GPA measures your academic performance for a single semester or term. It's calculated by dividing total quality points by total credits for that specific period.
- Covers one semester only
- Changes each term based on performance
- Good for tracking semester progress
CGPA measures your overall academic performance across all semesters. It's the weighted average of all grades throughout your academic career.
- Covers entire academic history
- More stable over time
- Used by employers and grad schools
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | GPA | CGPA |
|---|---|---|
| Time Period | Single semester | All semesters combined |
| Stability | Fluctuates each term | More stable over time |
| Use Case | Track semester progress | Jobs, grad school applications |
| Calculation | Semester credits only | All credits ever taken |
| Impact of One Bad Grade | Significant impact | Diluted by other grades |
When Is Each Used?
- Semester-based scholarships and honors lists
- Academic probation monitoring
- Tracking personal improvement
- Course load planning
- Job applications and interviews
- Graduate school admissions
- Degree classification (First Class, etc.)
- Cumulative scholarships and awards
Converting Between GPA and CGPA
You cannot directly convert a single semester GPA to CGPA—they measure different things. However, you can calculate CGPA from all your semester GPAs:
CGPA = Σ(Semester GPA × Semester Credits) ÷ Σ(All Credits)
Use our CGPA Calculator to compute your cumulative GPA from all your courses and semesters.
Calculate Your CGPAWhich Matters More?
For most practical purposes, CGPA matters more. It's what employers see on your resume, what graduate schools evaluate, and what determines your degree classification.
However, semester GPA is valuable for tracking your progress and identifying areas for improvement. A strong semester GPA can help raise a lower CGPA over time.