CASPA GPA Calculator
Estimate your CASPA GPA for physician assistant (PA) school applications using CASPA's standardized 4.0 conversion.
How the CASPA GPA Calculator works
CASPA (the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) recalculates your grades into several standardized GPAs — overall, science, non-science and more — using its own rules. This tool estimates the overall CASPA GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Two CASPA rules matter most: all attempts are counted (no grade replacement), and quarter credits are converted to semester hours (1 quarter hour ≈ 0.667 semester hours) before the GPA is computed. Enter your credits in semester hours for the most accurate estimate.
Formula & grading scale
Every grade maps to a point value. Multiply each grade's value by the course's credit hours to get its quality points, sum them, and divide by total credits:
GPA = Σ(grade value × credit hours) ÷ Σ(credit hours)
The CASPA uses this grade scale:
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | B | 3 |
| B- | 2.7 | C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2 | C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 | D | 1 |
| D- | 0.7 | F | 0 |
CASPA converts each grade to its 4.0 value, multiplies by semester credit hours to get quality points, and divides by total attempted credits. Withdraw/Fail (WF) counts as an F (0.0). Non-graded courses such as Pass/Fail are excluded.
Step-by-step example
- Convert each grade to CASPA points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, …).
- Multiply by semester credit hours and sum the quality points — say total 36.
- Divide by total attempted credits — say 17.
- CASPA GPA = 36 ÷ 17 = 2.12.
Why your CASPA GPA matters
Physician assistant programs are highly competitive, and CASPA's standardised GPAs — overall, science, non-science and prerequisite — are central to how programs screen applicants. Because CASPA recalculates everything onto one scale, this is the GPA that matters most for your PA applications.
How the CASPA GPA differs from your transcript
CASPA counts every attempt (no grade replacement), converts quarter credits to semester hours, and treats a Withdraw/Fail as an F. These rules mean your CASPA GPA can differ from the average printed on your transcript, sometimes noticeably if you have repeated coursework.
Building a stronger application
Science GPA usually gets the closest look, so strong grades in your prerequisite courses carry extra weight. Track your overall average with the GPA Calculator as you go, and if you are weighing other graduate paths, the Law School GPA Calculator works the same standardised way.
Tips for a more accurate CASPA estimate
Accuracy starts with your credit hours. If your school runs on the quarter system, convert each quarter hour to semester hours (multiply by roughly 0.667) before entering it, since CASPA standardises everything to semester hours. Include every graded attempt, list repeated courses twice, and treat any Withdraw/Fail as an F. It also helps to calculate your science GPA separately by entering only your science and math prerequisites, because PA programs weigh that figure heavily. Finally, double-check that you have excluded Pass/Fail courses, which earn credit but carry no grade points and should not appear in the calculation. Recalculating after each term keeps the estimate current, so you can see early whether your prerequisite grades are trending where you need them before you submit your application.
Frequently asked questions
Does CASPA count repeated courses?
Yes. CASPA includes every attempt in the GPA, even if your school replaced the original grade. There is no grade forgiveness in the CASPA calculation.
How do I handle quarter-system credits?
Convert quarter hours to semester hours by multiplying by 0.667 (2/3) before entering them, since CASPA standardizes everything to semester hours.
Does a WF count in my CASPA GPA?
Yes. A Withdraw/Fail is treated as an F (0.0 grade points) and is included in the calculation.
Why does CASPA calculate so many GPAs?
PA programs review overall, science, non-science, and prerequisite GPAs separately, plus year-by-year breakdowns, so CASPA standardizes all of them for fair comparison across applicants.
What is a competitive CASPA GPA for PA school?
Many matriculants have overall and science GPAs around 3.5 or higher, though admitted ranges vary widely by program. Treat that as a general benchmark and check each program's published averages rather than relying on a single number.
Related calculators
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You can also head back to the homepage, read our student blog, or learn more about ExamPredictor.online.