University of Wisconsin-Madison GPA Calculator
Calculate your UW-Madison GPA using the official grade-to-points scale from the Office of the Registrar. No sign-up, nothing data stored.
UW-Madison's Official GPA Scale
UW-Madison's Office of the Registrar converts every letter grade to grade points using the table below. Unlike many universities, UW-Madison does not use plus or minus grades — instead, it uses the intermediate grades AB and BC.
| Letter Grade | Description | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 4.0 |
| AB | Intermediate Grade | 3.5 |
| B | Good | 3.0 |
| BC | Intermediate Grade | 2.5 |
| C | Fair | 2.0 |
| D | Poor | 1.0 |
| F | Failure | 0.0 |
Grades of S or U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) for pass/fail coursework, CR/N, W (withdrawal), and I (Incomplete) do not carry grade points and are excluded from the GPA. Source: UW-Madison Office of the Registrar – Valid Grades.
How UW-Madison Calculates GPA
A UW-Madison GPA is the credit-weighted average of every letter grade (A through F) earned in courses taken for a grade at UW-Madison. Students receive both a term GPA (for one semester) and a cumulative GPA (across their full UW-Madison record), both viewable on the unofficial and official transcript.
A few exclusions matter if your total doesn't match your transcript at first glance:
- The GPA is based solely on credits earned or attempted at UW-Madison itself — transfer coursework and credit earned by exam carry a "T" grade and do not affect GPA.
- Courses taken on a pass/fail basis receive S or U instead of a letter grade, and neither carries grade points.
- Every grade of F remains permanently on the transcript. If a failed course is repeated, the original F still counts toward the GPA along with the new attempt.
- Most UW-Madison courses carry 3 or 4 credits, based on the standard of about 45 hours of coursework per credit over a semester.
Graduate and Law School grading differ. The scale above applies to UW-Madison undergraduate coursework. The Graduate School uses additional grades like P (Progress) for research courses, and the Law School maintains its own separate grading scale entirely.
About the University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison was founded in 1848 — the very same year Wisconsin became a state. That makes it one of the oldest public universities in the country.
The campus sits along the southern shore of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, which is also the state capital. Bascom Hill, topped by Bascom Hall, forms the historic heart of campus and gives the school its well-known nickname among students: "Bucky's campus," after mascot Bucky Badger.
UW-Madison is a public, land-grant research university and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It belongs to the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research institutions in North America.
The university is organized into more than a dozen schools and colleges, including the College of Letters & Science, the College of Engineering, the Wisconsin School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Medicine and Public Health, the School of Nursing, and the Law School.
More than 50,000 students study at UW-Madison each year, taught by a faculty that includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and members of the National Academy of Sciences.
UW-Madison is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the United States, with especially strong programs in areas like life sciences, engineering, journalism, and political science.
Admissions & Campus Life
UW-Madison is a selective public university, and admitted students bring strong academic records from high schools across Wisconsin and around the world.
Admissions officers review grades and coursework rigor alongside essays and activities. Acceptance rates and application requirements change from year to year, so for the most accurate, current figures, check the UW-Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment directly.
Student life at UW-Madison centers on State Street, the pedestrian corridor connecting campus to the Wisconsin State Capitol, and on the Memorial Union Terrace overlooking Lake Mendota — a favorite spot for studying, live music, and the university's famous sunset views.
There are hundreds of registered student organizations, from The Badger Herald and Daily Cardinal student newspapers to research labs and performing arts groups.
UW-Madison's athletic teams are the Wisconsin Badgers, competing in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Ten Conference. Badger football and hockey games at Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center are major campus traditions, including the beloved "Jump Around" tradition between the third and fourth quarters of home football games.
Notable UW-Madison Alumni
UW-Madison's alumni network includes hundreds of thousands of graduates working across science, business, government, and the arts.
Notable alumni include Google co-founder Larry Page's father figure and computer scientist mentors aside, the school's list features business leaders, journalists, and public servants who trace their start to Madison's campus.
The university's faculty and alumni have collectively earned numerous Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowships, reflecting UW-Madison's long-standing reputation as a major research institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
