Data Sources & Methodology
How university grading information is organized and how GPA estimates are calculated on BetterCollegeGrades.
1. University grading data
Each university record can contain a university name, grade labels, mark or percentage ranges, grade-point values, a source URL and a last-reviewed date. Not every institution publishes all of these elements in the same format, so the fields shown on a university page depend on the data available for that record.
2. Source material
Where available, records are prepared from publicly accessible institutional material such as academic regulations, registrar pages, university handbooks, catalogs or grading-policy pages. A source link on a university page is provided so users can inspect the referenced material directly.
A source link does not mean BetterCollegeGrades is affiliated with that institution. It identifies the material used to prepare or review the grading record.
3. GPA calculation
For standard weighted calculations, the calculator multiplies each grade-point value by the course credit or unit weight, adds those weighted values, and divides by the total course weight.
Formula: GPA = Σ(Grade Point × Course Weight) ÷ Σ(Course Weight)
Where a cumulative calculation is offered, previous GPA and completed study weight can be combined with new weighted results. Dedicated target-GPA tools work backward from a desired cumulative outcome using the values entered by the user.
4. What a last-reviewed date means
A last-reviewed date records when the grading information in that university record was checked or updated in our dataset. It is not a guarantee that the university has made no change since that date. Students should compare important results with the current institutional policy.
5. Limits of the calculators
- Repeated courses may be replaced, averaged, excluded or otherwise treated differently.
- Pass/fail, withdrawn, incomplete or non-credit grades may have special rules.
- Transfer credits may count toward a program without being included in institutional GPA.
- Programs can have separate progression, honours or graduation calculations.
- Official systems may use different rounding or precision rules.
6. Corrections
If you find an apparent error, use the contact form and include the university name, BetterCollegeGrades page URL and, where possible, a current institutional source.