GPA Required for Graduation

To graduate, a student must achieve a 2.0 grade-point average in all four of the following GPA calculations: all college work attempted (both at The University of Iowa and at any transfer institutions), all work undertaken at the University of Iowa, all work in the major field, and all work for the major undertaken at the University of Iowa. The Degree Evaluation (available to students through ISIS) provides students with their current GPAs.

Computing the GPA

The cumulative grade-point average (GPA) is computed by (a) multiplying the number of semester hours in each course by the appropriate grade points; (b) adding up the results in (a); and (c) dividing the total in (b) by the total number of hours taken. The Registrar's website offers an interactive GPA calculator.

Courses in which marks of I, N, P, R, S, U, W, or O have been given are not included in the GPA calculation. Grades of F are included in computing the GPA. Although grades of A+ have a value of 4.33 in calculating a student's GPA, the cumulative GPA displayed at the bottom of the permanent record cannot exceed 4.00.

Waiver of the Minimum GPA in the Major

If a student falls slightly below the 2.0 standard in major course work, the DEO or the department's director of undergraduate studies may petition the College for an exception to the minimum GPA requirement in the major. The student must still achieve a 2.0 GPA in all course work at the University, and the petition must come from the department, not the student.