Brown GPA Calculator, 4.0 Scale GPA Tool

Grading Scale

4.0

no plus/minus

Dean's List

None

not awarded

Probation

below 2.0

cumulative GPA floor

What Is a Good GPA at Brown?

Brown University does not calculate or publish GPAs. The Open Curriculum (since 1969) lets students take any course Satisfactory/No Credit, and the transcript shows only earned grades. Without a GPA, academic standing is determined by credit progression rather than cumulative average. Brown also abolished its Dean's List along with the GPA.

How Brown Calculates GPA

Brown University (Brown) uses a 4.0 grade point scale and does not use plus/minus modifiers, A, B, C, D, F only. 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.

Brown GPA Formula

GPA = Sum(Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Sum(Credit Hours)

Where:

Grade Points = letter-grade value on the 4.0 scale
Credit Hours = credit value of the course on the Brown transcript
A+ = 4.0 (same as A on the standard scale)

Example: A 4-credit class with an A (4.0 points) and a 3-credit class with a B+ (3.3 points): quality points = 4 × 4.0 + 3 × 3.3 = 25.9, total credits = 7, GPA = 25.9 / 7 = 3.70.

Brown Grading Policy Notes

Brown is the only Ivy League school without a GPA. The Open Curriculum (introduced 1969) eliminated grade calculation and removed D grades from the transcript. Students earn A, B, C, S (Satisfactory), or No Credit only. There is no Dean's List. Magna and summa cum laude were abolished in 2003. Cum laude (top 25%) is awarded based on departmental honors and credit completion.

Brown Honors and Recognition

Brown abolished its Dean's List in 1969 along with the introduction of the Open Curriculum, and abolished magna and summa cum laude in 2003. Cum laude (top 25% of each concentration) is the only Latin honor still awarded.

Academic Standing and Repeat Policy at Brown

Academic Probation Threshold

Brown 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 Brown

Under Brown's repeat policy, both attempts remain on the transcript and count toward the GPA. 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 Brown

No. Brown does not calculate a GPA and does not offer formal grade forgiveness. Students may take any course Satisfactory/No Credit (S/NC) without it affecting academic standing. There is no D grade , only A, B, C, S, or No Credit.

Major GPA Requirements at Brown

Concentrations (Brown's term for majors) are credit-based rather than GPA-based. Distinction in the Concentration requires faculty review and a senior thesis or capstone, not a fixed cumulative GPA.

What Makes Brown Grading Distinctive

No GPA is calculated or printed on the transcript
No D grades exist , only A, B, C, S, or No Credit
No Dean's List; magna and summa cum laude abolished in 2003

Brown at a Glance

Institution type: private research
Location: Providence, RI
Undergraduate enrollment: 10,696
Founded: 1764
Athletic conference: Ivy League
Registrar source: Brown official grading policy

Related GPA Tools

To roll this Brown 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 Brown registrar as of 2026-05-05. 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.

Frequently asked questions

How To Calculate GPA Brown University?

Brown calculates GPA by converting each letter grade to grade points on the 4.0 scale, multiplying by the course's credit hours, summing the quality points, and dividing by total credits attempted. Plus/minus modifiers and course repeats follow Brown's published registrar rules, the calculator above mirrors the same arithmetic. For a quick check on where your current term sits, enter each course with its grade and credit load and compare the result to the probation floor of 2.0 and the published honors cutoffs. Always verify with your specific school's registrar.

How do I calculate my Brown GPA?

Enter each Brown course you have taken, select your letter grade, and enter the credit hours from your transcript. The calculator converts each grade into grade points on the standard 4.0 scale, multiplies by credit hours, and divides by total credits. Brown does not use plus/minus modifiers, A, B, C, D, F only and caps A+ at the same 4.0 value as an A, which this calculator reflects by default.

What GPA do I need for the Brown Dean's List?

Brown does not publish a fixed Dean's List GPA threshold. Brown abolished its Dean's List in 1969 along with the introduction of the Open Curriculum, and abolished magna and summa cum laude in 2003. Cum laude (top 25% of each concentration) is the only Latin honor still awarded.

What is the GPA cutoff for academic probation at Brown?

At Brown, students fall into academic probation when their GPA drops below 2.0. Probation status typically restricts course registration, triggers mandatory advising, and may affect financial aid eligibility. Use this calculator to check where your current term and cumulative averages land relative to the 2.0 floor.

Does Brown award Latin honors at graduation?

Brown does not publish fixed Latin honors GPA thresholds that apply across all undergraduate programs. Brown abolished its Dean's List in 1969 along with the introduction of the Open Curriculum, and abolished magna and summa cum laude in 2003. Cum laude (top 25% of each concentration) is the only Latin honor still awarded.

If I retake a course at Brown, how does it affect my GPA?

Brown's repeat policy is that both attempts remain on the transcript and count toward the GPA. This calculator lets you model either scenario, enter just the most recent grade to see a replace-style GPA, or enter both attempts to see how an average-counting or both-count policy would shape your transcript.