How ETSU calculates undergraduate GPA
ETSU calculates a grade point average (GPA) by totaling all quality points earned in every course attempted, then dividing by the total number of applicable credits attempted.
ETSU actually tracks four different GPAs, each covering different coursework:
- Overall GPA — institutional and articulated coursework, excluding pre-college level courses. Used for graduation eligibility, academic honors, and athletics eligibility.
- Overall Combined GPA — institutional and articulated transfer coursework, including pre-college level courses. Used for suspension/probation status and financial aid eligibility.
- Institutional GPA — institutional coursework only, excluding pre-college level courses. Used for the Dean's List.
- Lottery GPA — calculated as prescribed by Tennessee state law and the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship Program.
If a course is repeated once, only the most recent attempt counts toward GPA (excluding I, W, or WF grades). If repeated two or more times, all grades from the third and later attempts count.
Students must have a minimum Overall GPA of 2.5 to take a course as Pass/Fail (P/F), may take no more than one P/F course per semester, and may count no more than 12 credit hours of P/F coursework toward the credits required for graduation. A failing grade earned under the P/F option is computed into GPA; a Pass grade is not.
Source: Undergraduate Grading Policy SS I.A-C, II, IV, V -- GPA computation, GPA types, P/F option, repeat-course rule — verified Aug 2026
Suspension and probation basis
ETSU determines suspension and academic probation status using the Overall Combined GPA, which includes institutional coursework, articulated transfer coursework, and pre-college level coursework. The university's grading policy does not publish the specific GPA thresholds that trigger suspension or probation.
Source: Undergraduate Grading Policy SS II.B -- Overall Combined GPA determines suspension/probation — verified Aug 2026
GPA basis for graduation eligibility
Eligibility for graduation is determined using the Overall GPA, which is calculated from institutional and articulated coursework, excluding pre-college level courses. The university's grading policy does not publish a specific minimum GPA figure required to graduate.
Source: Undergraduate Grading Policy SS II.A -- Overall GPA determines graduation eligibility — verified Aug 2026
GPA basis for honors, athletics, and the Dean's List
The Overall GPA is used to determine eligibility for academic honors and athletics. The Institutional GPA — institutional coursework only, excluding pre-college level courses — is used to determine the Dean's List.
Source: Undergraduate Grading Policy SS II.A, II.C -- Overall GPA and Institutional GPA uses — verified Aug 2026
How transfer coursework affects GPA
Courses transferred to ETSU on or after August 1, 2015 are not included in the Overall GPA or Institutional GPA. Transfer coursework is included only in the Overall Combined GPA, which also includes pre-college level coursework. Remedial and developmental courses, and courses from which a student withdrew in good standing, are excluded from every GPA.
Source: Undergraduate Grading Policy SS I.C, II.B -- transfer/remedial/developmental course exclusions — verified Aug 2026
