University of Wyoming

4.0 Scale (Transcript Evaluation)

The University of Wyoming Admissions Office has been recalculating students' GPAs on a traditional 4.0 scale since it implemented GPA requirements in 1995. This calculation takes pluses and minuses out of the equation and applies 4.0 points for an A, 3.0 points for a B and so fourth. GPA is calculated from all high school courses taken where a letter grade is awarded. The Hathaway Scholarship Program, and UW's Pride and Promise scholarships, for eligible Wyoming residents use the same scale for GPA calculation. Hathaway legislation also requires Wyoming high schools to indicate this GPA on students' high school transcripts regardless of the GPA scale used for high school purposes.

Percentages are not considered by UW, unless the high school does not supply a corresponding letter grade, or scale, from which to determine the letter grade. In this case, UW uses a scale where:

93%-100% = A
85%-92% = B
77%-84% = C
70%-76% = D

The grading scale issue is obviously a hot one; with school districts reexamining their grading scales to provide the greatest educational benefit to their students - weighing student preparedness with scholarship eligibility. UW, by no means, wants to dictate the outcome of those discussions, but knowing our processes and policies should help you address these issues. A related hot-button issue regards the incentive for students to take AP or IB courses when a standard 4.0-scale is used. A student making this decision should consider the following:

  • Students taking advanced courses do better on their ACT and SAT. These scores are used in awarding Hathaway and UW scholarships.
  • Scholarships brought in from outside sources stack on-top of Hathaway and UW Scholarships. Many of these outside scholarships are given to the rigorous nature of the coursework taken in high school.
  • AP and IB coursework can earn a student college credit; thus 'earning' themselves a 'scholarship.' For example, a resident student who has earned 6 credit hours through AP work saves approximately $600 in tuition ($1800 for non-residents). Last year, the average IB student transferred about 25 credits to UW and saved approximately $2375 in tuition costs. High achieving students understand that taking such courses is like ensuring a scholarship, rather than keeping them from one - not to mention the understanding that they are better academically prepared to do well at UW when they arrive.

If you have questions on how the UW Office of Admission evaluates transcripts and calculates grade point averages, please contact us at 1-800-324-5996 or why-wyo@uwyo.edu.