Science GPA Calculator

Science GPA vs BCPM GPA: What Is the Difference?

Science GPA is a general term for a GPA calculated using only science courses, while BCPM GPA is the specific version AMCAS calculates for medical school applications using Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses exclusively.

The term science GPA appears across many health professions application systems, but each system defines the qualifying courses slightly differently. AMCAS for medical school uses the BCPM classification. AADSAS for dental school uses a similar but not identical science classification. VMCAS for veterinary school has its own science course list. When a pre-med student or advisor says science GPA, they almost always mean BCPM GPA calculated under AMCAS rules.

For practical purposes, use this calculator by entering only science courses: biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, genetics, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, calculus, statistics, and related STEM coursework. The resulting GPA is your science GPA. If you are applying to medical school specifically, consult the BCPM calculator for a classification that matches AMCAS rules exactly.

How to Calculate Science GPA

Calculating science GPA follows the same formula as overall GPA, applied only to science courses. Assign each science course a grade point value (A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, etc.). Multiply the grade point value by the credit hours for that course to get quality points. Add all quality points for science courses. Divide by total science credit hours. The result is your science GPA.

Common Science Courses by Category

The following courses consistently qualify as science for health professions applications. Enter these courses in the calculator and exclude all non-science courses (humanities, social sciences, languages, economics) to compute your science GPA.

Which Programs Use Science GPA and Why It Matters

Every health professions application service reports science GPA separately because clinical programs require direct mastery of biomedical sciences, and science GPA is a stronger predictor of program success than overall GPA alone.

Medical School (AMCAS)

AMCAS calculates and reports BCPM GPA for all MD program applications. The average BCPM GPA of students who matriculate at US MD programs is approximately 3.65. At top 20 programs, the average science GPA exceeds 3.75. Medical schools use science GPA to assess readiness for the Basic Sciences curriculum (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology) that fills the first two years of most MD programs.

Dental School (AADSAS) and Veterinary School (VMCAS)

The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service and the Veterinary Medical College Application Service both calculate science GPAs using classification systems similar to AMCAS BCPM. Dental school applicants typically need a science GPA of 3.2 or above to be competitive, with top programs preferring 3.5+. Veterinary school is highly competitive in absolute terms: average science GPAs at admitted students often exceed 3.5, and some programs report average GPAs above 3.7 for matriculants.

Pharmacy and Other Health Professions

PharmCAS for pharmacy school, OptomCAS for optometry, and similar systems all calculate science or prerequisite GPAs separately from overall GPA. Pharmacy programs typically require a minimum science GPA of 2.5, with competitive applicants showing 3.0 or above. Optometry programs prefer science GPAs of 3.0 or above, with average matriculant science GPAs near 3.3 at competitive programs.

Science GPA vs Overall GPA: What Each Signals to Admissions

Overall GPA shows breadth of academic performance across all disciplines. Science GPA shows depth in the specific subject area required for the professional program. A high overall GPA with a low science GPA suggests the student performed well in non-science courses but struggled with scientific content. Admissions committees at health professions schools weight science GPA heavily because the curriculum is almost entirely science-based. A 3.4 science GPA with a 3.9 overall GPA is often less competitive than a 3.6 science GPA with a 3.6 overall GPA for medical school admissions.

Improving a Low Science GPA

Students with a science GPA below competitive targets have several options. Taking upper-division science courses and earning strong grades adds science credit hours at a higher GPA, numerically pulling the science GPA upward. A student with 40 science credits at 3.0 who earns 20 more science credits at 4.0 ends up with a science GPA of 3.33, an improvement of 0.33 points. Formal post-baccalaureate programs offer structured pathways for GPA improvement with pre-health advising support. Special Master's Programs (SMPs) in biomedical sciences are particularly valued by medical school admissions because they demonstrate graduate-level science performance.

Grade Scale Reference

Science GPA uses the same 4.0 letter grade scale as overall GPA. Enter science course grades and credits to calculate your science-only GPA.

Worked Example: Science GPA Calculation

A pre-health student with 17 science credit hours across five core courses earns a science GPA of 3.64.

These 5 courses represent one year of core pre-health science requirements. Non-science courses taken the same semester (English, Psychology, History) are excluded from science GPA but included in overall GPA. A student who also takes a 3-credit Psychology course and earns an A earns an overall GPA of (61.9 + 12.0) ÷ 20 = 3.70, while the science GPA remains 3.64.