What Is a Good GPA at BU?
A GPA of 3.4 or higher is considered solid at BU, where the average undergraduate GPA sits near 3.5. Dean's List threshold is 3.5 cumulative with a full-time course load. Latin honors require 3.5 / 3.7 / 3.85 cumulative GPA depending on tier.
The average undergraduate GPA at BU sits near 3.50, drawn from the BU registrar policy and aggregated reporting. Enter your courses in the calculator above to see where your cumulative GPA lands relative to that figure.
How BU Calculates GPA
Boston University (BU) uses a 4.0 grade point scale and uses plus/minus modifiers (A-, B+, B-, and so on). The school caps A+ at the same 4.0 value as an A, which matters when converting letter grades from a transcript that records A and A+ separately. Each course's grade points multiply by its credit hours, those quality points sum across all courses, and the total divides by total credits attempted.
BU GPA Formula
GPA = Sum(Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Sum(Credit Hours)
- Grade Points = letter-grade value on the 4.0 scale
- Credit Hours = credit value of the course on the BU transcript
- A+ = 4.0 (same as A on the standard scale)
BU Grading Policy Notes
BU uses the standard 4.0 scale with plus and minus modifiers. A+ records but caps at 4.0. Each undergraduate school (CAS, Questrom, Engineering, COM, Sargent) maintains its own Dean's List policy and Latin honors cutoffs.
BU Honors and Recognition
Dean's List at BU
BU lists students with a GPA of 3.50 or higher on the Dean's List. Dean's List is based on cumulative GPA across all completed terms.
Latin Honors at BU
- Summa cum laude: 3.90 cumulative GPA or above
- Magna cum laude: 3.80 cumulative GPA or above
- Cum laude: 3.50 cumulative GPA or above
BU Dean's List requires a 3.5+ term GPA with a full-time course load. Latin honors thresholds vary slightly by school; CAS uses 3.5/3.8/3.9.
Academic Standing and Repeat Policy at BU
Academic Probation Threshold
BU places students on academic probation when their cumulative GPA drops below 2.0. Probation usually triggers mandatory advising, restricts course registration, and can affect financial aid or scholarships. Use the calculator to model remaining semesters and see how many A or B grades would lift the GPA back above the 2.0 floor.
Repeating a Course at BU
Under BU's repeat policy, the new grade replaces the old grade in the GPA calculation. This calculator treats every entered row as a distinct graded attempt; if your school replaces the old grade, leave off the original, and if both count, enter both lines. Always confirm the final transcript version with the registrar before relying on a projected GPA.
Grade Forgiveness at BU
No. Boston University does not offer formal grade replacement. Repeated courses count both attempts in the GPA; the most recent attempt satisfies the degree requirement.
Major GPA Requirements at BU
Most majors require 2.0 minimum. Questrom admission requires 3.0+ in business prerequisites. Engineering majors require 2.0 to 2.5 in technical core depending on program.
What Makes BU Grading Distinctive
- Each school sets its own honors cutoffs
- Strong urban-campus location influences enrollment
- BU Hub general education replaces traditional core
BU at a Glance
- Institution type
- private research
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 37,557
- Founded
- 1839
- Athletic conference
- Patriot League
- Average undergrad GPA
- 3.50
- Registrar source
- BU official grading policy
Related GPA Tools
To roll this BU GPA into a cumulative figure across multiple semesters, use the cumulative GPA calculator. For a semester-by-semester view with optional prior-GPA import, use the college GPA calculator. To compute individual course grades before they hit your transcript, switch to the grade calculator.
Accuracy Note
This calculator follows the grading policy published by the BU registrar as of 2026-04-18. Policies are reviewed periodically; the "Last verified" date in the footer reflects the most recent confirmation. Always cross-check your final GPA against your official transcript. The tool models the same formulas registrars use but cannot account for grade forgiveness petitions, audit decisions, or exceptions approved by the dean of students.