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Education · Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology GPA Calculator

Built for California Institute of Technology students on the 4.3 scale. Free, mobile-friendly, no signup.

Note: Caltech uses a 4.0 scale by default; some departments allow A+ = 4.3. Use the generic calculator instead →

This semester

4.00
9 credits

How grades convert to points here

California Institute of Technology recognizes plus/minus, but an A+ is worth 4.00 rather than 4.33. That asymmetry matters at the top of the scale — you can lose points for an A- but cannot gain them back with an A+.

First- and second-quarter first-year students are graded pass/fail in Core and intro courses, and those terms produce no GPA at all — GPA only begins once letter grading applies.

Standing, honors lists, and retakes

Good academic standing at California Institute of Technology requires a cumulative GPA of at least 1.9. That differs from the 2.0 most US institutions use, so do not assume the common threshold applies here.

The part students usually miss

Good academic standing at Caltech requires only a 1.9 GPA (not the usual 2.0), and A+ = 4.3 only in departments that choose to allow it — the university default caps at 4.0.

Grading policy compiled from California Institute of Technology's registrar and academic catalog. Policies change; the registrar is authoritative. See our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does California Institute of Technology use plus/minus grading?▾
Yes, with one exception: A+ is worth 4.00, the same as an A. Minus grades reduce your average but an A+ cannot raise it above 4.00.
What GPA do you need to stay in good standing at California Institute of Technology?▾
A cumulative 1.9. Note this differs from the 2.0 threshold most US universities use. Dropping below it usually starts with a warning rather than immediate probation, and schools generally allow at least one term to recover before more serious consequences apply.
Can I rely on this number?▾
It applies California Institute of Technology's published scale to the grades you enter, so for a standard letter-graded course load it should match. It will not account for transfer credit, courses excluded from the GPA by policy, or program-specific weighting. Your registrar's figure is the official one.

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