This is an archived copy of the 2020-21 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Computation of the Grade Point Average

While a student’s performance in a course is represented by a letter grade, a grade point average is used to represent the student's academic performance more broadly. For undergraduates, the official grade point average is called the cumulative University grade point average; the official grade point average for graduate students is called the graduate grade point average. Official grade point averages are calculated by the registrar and appear on the student academic record maintained by the registrar.

The following numerical equivalents of letter grades are used in the calculation of both the cumulative University grade point average for undergraduates and the graduate grade point average:

Letter grade Grade points Letter grade Grade points
A4.00C2.00
A-3.67C-1.67
B+3.33D+1.33
B3.00D1.00
B-2.67D-0.67
C+2.33F0.00

Undergraduate Students

The cumulative University grade point average for an undergraduate includes all work undertaken at The University of Texas at Austin (including credit by examination, correspondence, and extension) for which a letter grade is recorded. Courses in which the symbol I, Q, W, X, S, U, or CR is recorded are excluded. (Note: Since September 15, 2006, the University has awarded only the symbol CR, rather than a letter grade, for credit earned by exam. As a result, credit earned by exam and recorded since that date is not included in the student’s cumulative University grade point average. Through September 15, 2006, students chose either a letter grade or the symbol CR for credit earned by exam; credit by exam that was recorded with a letter grade is included in the student’s cumulative University grade point average.)

Graduate Students

The graduate grade point average includes all upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses in which the student earns a letter grade while enrolled in the Graduate School; the following are excluded: undergraduate courses taken through the University’s TEXAS Extended Campus; courses for which the symbol Q, W, X, I, CR, or NC is recorded; graduate or undergraduate courses the student took at the University before enrolling in the Graduate School; credit earned by examination; and courses taken at other institutions. The graduate grade point average also excludes grades in all undergraduate courses the student took from fall 1999 through summer 2008; upper-division undergraduate courses the student took as a graduate student before fall 1999 and after summer 2008 are included.