CGPA VS GPA: Meaning, Differences And All You Need To Know

The two (2) methods of calculating gross point weighted average of students academic performance in tertiary institutions in Nigeria are the CGPA and GPA methods. Students in higher institutions are often confused by both terms and can’t tell the differences between both.

Today, I will be explaining with examples and differences in the calculation methods of both CGPA and GPA. You will be taught on how to calculate your CGPA and GPA as the case may be. In addition, I have included some schools that currently adopts either the use of CGPA or GPA as a means of calculating academic performance of students.

CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) and GPA (Grade Point Average) are two different methods of calculating a student’s academic performance, particularly in higher education.

GPA is a calculation of a student’s average grade in a particular semester or academic year. It is calculated by adding up the total number of grade points earned and dividing that by the number of credit hours taken during that semester or year. GPA is usually calculated on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest achievable score.

CGPA, on the other hand, is a calculation of a student’s cumulative average grade throughout their entire academic program. This means that it takes into account all the courses that a student has taken since the beginning of their program, rather than just a single semester or year. CGPA is calculated in the same way as GPA, but the calculation is done over the entire program. It is also usually calculated on a scale of 0 to 4.

In summary, GPA is a measure of a student’s performance in a particular semester or academic year, while CGPA is a measure of a student’s cumulative performance throughout their entire academic program. CGPA is often used by universities to determine whether a student meets the requirements for graduation or academic honors, while GPA is used to determine a student’s eligibility for academic scholarships, grants, or other academic awards.

Using CGPA and GPA, which calculation gives higher Grades?

The calculation that gives higher grades depends on the specific grading scale and method of calculation used by a particular institution or program.

In general, CGPA tends to give a more comprehensive picture of a student’s overall academic performance, as it takes into account all the courses a student has taken throughout their entire academic program. However, GPA can give a more detailed and up-to-date snapshot of a student’s current academic standing, as it only considers grades earned in a particular semester or academic year.

The grading scale used by an institution or program can also impact the relative scores of CGPA and GPA. For example, if an institution uses a grading scale that is heavily weighted towards the upper end of the scale (such as an A-F scale with no plus or minus grades), then both CGPA and GPA scores are likely to be higher overall.

Ultimately, whether CGPA or GPA gives higher grades depends on the specific context and calculation method used by the institution or program.

20 Differences Between CGPA and GPA

Here are 20 differences between CGPA and GPA:

1. Calculation Method: GPA is calculated by averaging a student’s grades for a single semester or academic year, while CGPA is calculated by averaging a student’s grades for their entire academic program.
2. Timeframe: GPA is calculated over a shorter period of time than CGPA, typically one semester or academic year compared to an entire program.
3. Weighting: GPA is typically weighted by the number of credit hours per course, while CGPA is not always weighted in this way.
4. Cumulative: CGPA is cumulative, meaning it takes into account all courses taken over the entire program, while GPA is only cumulative for the specific semester or academic year.
5. Academic Standing: GPA is used to determine a student’s academic standing for a particular semester or academic year, while CGPA is used to determine a student’s overall academic performance throughout their program.
6. Academic Honors: CGPA is often used to determine a student’s eligibility for academic honors, such as summa cum laude or magna cum laude, while GPA is not.
7. Scholarship Eligibility: GPA is often used to determine a student’s eligibility for scholarships, while CGPA may be used as one factor among many to determine scholarship eligibility.
8. Course Load: CGPA is calculated based on a student’s overall academic performance, regardless of course load, while GPA may be affected by the number of courses a student takes in a given semester.
9. Weighting Scales: The weighting scales used for CGPA and GPA may be different, depending on the institution or program.
10. Grading System: CGPA and GPA may be calculated differently depending on the grading system used, such as a letter grade system or a percentage-based system.
11. Importance: CGPA is often given more importance than GPA, especially in long-duration courses like undergraduate or graduate programs. This is because CGPA is an indicator of a student’s overall academic performance over a longer period of time.
12. Errors: Errors in calculating GPA may not significantly affect CGPA, as CGPA takes into account all the courses taken over the entire academic program. However, errors in calculating CGPA may significantly affect the overall academic performance of a student.
13. Rounding: GPA is often rounded to one or two decimal places, while CGPA is often rounded to two decimal places.
14. Grading System: The grading system for GPA and CGPA may differ, with some institutions using a letter grade system for GPA and a numerical grading system for CGPA.
15. Feedback: GPA provides students with feedback on their academic performance at the end of each semester, while CGPA provides students with feedback on their overall academic performance throughout their program.
16. Course Selection: CGPA may provide more flexibility in course selection, as students are not restricted to specific courses that may affect their GPA.
17. Transcripts: CGPA is often included on academic transcripts, while GPA may not be included or may only be included for specific semesters or academic years.
18. Course Retakes: Retaking a course may impact GPA, as the new grade replaces the old grade in GPA calculations, but may not significantly affect CGPA if the student performs well in other courses.
19. Graduate School Admissions: CGPA is often a critical factor in graduate school admissions, while GPA may be less important or only considered for specific semesters or academic years.
20. Impact of Electives: CGPA may be less impacted by elective courses, as they often have less weight in the overall calculation compared to core courses, while GPA may be significantly impacted by elective courses if they have a higher weight in the calculation.

List of Universities in Nigeria Using CGPA For Calculating Academic Performance

Most universities and higher education institutions in Nigeria use CGPA to evaluate and report students’ academic performance. Here is a list of some of the notable universities in Nigeria that make use of CGPA:

1. University of Lagos
2. University of Ibadan
3. Ahmadu Bello University
4. Obafemi Awolowo University
5. University of Benin
6. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
7. Lagos State University
8. Federal University of Technology, Akure
9. Federal University of Technology, Minna
10. University of Ilorin
11. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
12. University of Jos
13. Bayero University Kano
14. University of Abuja
15. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
16. University of Calabar
17. Covenant University
18. Babcock University
19. Afe Babalola University
20. Caleb University

It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other universities and higher education institutions in Nigeria that make use of CGPA not listed here.

List of schools that uses GPA For Calculating Academic Performance

Most universities and higher education institutions in Nigeria that offer undergraduate programs also use GPA to evaluate and report students’ academic performance. Here is a list of some of the notable universities in Nigeria that make use of GPA:

1. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
2. University of Port Harcourt
3. Adekunle Ajasin University
4. Bowen University
5. Redeemer’s University
6. Nigerian Defence Academy
7. Nigerian Police Academy
8. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
9. Madonna University
10. Pan-Atlantic University
11. American University of Nigeria
12. Bells University of Technology
13. Landmark University
14. Lead City University
15. Ajayi Crowther University

As clarified above, there are other universities and higher institutions in Nigeria which may not have been listed here that make use of GPA in the calculation of students academic performance.