Quick Definitions
- GPA (Grade Point Average) — your average grade on a scale (usually 4.0 in the US)
- SGPA (Semester GPA) — GPA for a single semester
- CGPA (Cumulative GPA) — GPA across all semesters combined
The Key Difference
GPA is a general term. CGPA specifically means the cumulative average across your entire program.
In India, most universities use a 10-point CGPA scale. In the US, it's typically a 4.0 GPA scale.
How SGPA Becomes CGPA
CGPA = Σ(SGPAi × Creditsi) / Σ(Creditsi)
If your SGPAs across 4 semesters are 8.5, 8.0, 8.8, and 9.0 with equal credits:
CGPA = (8.5 + 8.0 + 8.8 + 9.0) / 4 = 8.575
Converting Between Scales
Indian CGPA (10) → US GPA (4.0):
GPA = (CGPA / 10) × 4
Example: 8.5 CGPA → 3.4 GPA
US GPA (4.0) → Indian CGPA (10):
CGPA = (GPA / 4) × 10
Example: 3.5 GPA → 8.75 CGPA
Use our CGPA to GPA converter or GPA to CGPA converter for instant results.
Which One Do Employers Care About?
Most Indian employers ask for CGPA or percentage. US employers and universities ask for GPA on a 4.0 scale.
For graduate school applications (GRE, MS abroad), you'll typically need to convert your CGPA to the 4.0 scale. WES (World Education Services) does official evaluations.