Nigerian CGPA and grades to US GPA
Nigerian universities grade courses A to F on a 5-point scale and classify degrees by CGPA, from First Class at 4.50 down to Pass. Enter a CGPA or a course mark.
Convert a grade
Standards vary by school; follow your target school’s rules.
How the estimate works
The estimate draws straight lines between these points on the “CGPA out of 5 (NUC scale)” scale: 1 → 1.0, 3 → 3.0, 3.5 → 3.3, 4.5 → 3.7, 5 → 4.0. The points in the middle come from the published tables below; mapping the lowest pass to 1.0 and the top of the scale to 4.0 is a GradeKite assumption. Values outside the points get no estimate.
The estimate draws straight lines between these points on the “Course or overall mark (0–100)” scale: 40 → 1.0, 55 → 3.0, 60 → 3.3, 70 → 3.7, 100 → 4.0. The points in the middle come from the published tables below; mapping the lowest pass to 1.0 and the top of the scale to 4.0 is a GradeKite assumption. Values outside the points get no estimate.
Grade bands
| Degree class | CGPA |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 4.50–5.00 |
| Second Class Honours (Upper Division) | 3.50–4.49 |
| Second Class Honours (Lower Division) | 2.40–3.49 |
| Third Class Honours | 1.50–2.39 |
| Pass | 1.00–1.49 |
| Letter | Mark % | Grade point (of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 70–100 | 5.0 |
| B | 60–69 | 4.0 |
| C | 50–59 | 3.0 |
| D | 45–49 | 2.0 |
| E | 40–44 | 1.0 |
| F | 0–39 | 0 |
The NUC framework
Nigeria’s National Universities Commission sets minimum academic standards for every accredited program. Its current Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) documents use one grade-point table: 70–100 is an A worth 5 points, 60–69 a B (4), 50–59 a C (3), 45–49 a D (2), 40–44 an E (1) and below 40 an F. A CGPA is the credit-weighted average of those points over every course taken, passed or failed, and the degree class follows from it: First Class from 4.50, Second Class Upper from 3.50, Second Class Lower from 2.40 and Third Class from 1.50.
Some older programs and transcripts use 4- or 7-point scales. Loughborough publishes UK equivalents for those too, so the converter keeps them, though no source we cite maps them to a US GPA.
Why a 2:2 can be a B
Toronto’s table is generous at the lower end: a 3.00 CGPA or 55% (a Second Class Lower) is its mid-B, 3.50 or 60% (Second Class Upper) is B+, and 4.50 or 70% (First Class) is A−. Oregon State instead asks for 60%, 4 out of 5, or Second Class Upper for its B average. Loughborough puts a UK First at 4.0 on the 5-point scale, a 2:1 at 3.4 and a 2:2 at 2.7.
Worked example
Chiamaka has a 3.80 CGPA, Second Class Upper. Toronto’s anchors are 3.50 (3.3) and 4.50 (3.7), so 3.80 is 30% of the way: 3.3 + 0.4 × 0.3 = 3.42, shown as 3.4. Loughborough reads 3.80 as a 2:1, and it is just under Oregon State’s 4.0 alternative but meets its Second Class Upper option. A single course mark of 63 is a B (4 of 5 points) and estimates at 3.3 + 0.4 × 3/10 = 3.42 on the mark setting.
What universities publish
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies | Mid-B 3.00 or 55/100 (2nd Class Lower); B+ 3.50 or 60/100 (2nd Class Upper); A− 4.50 or 70/100 (1st Class). |
| Oregon State University Graduate Admissions | B average: 60%, 4 out of 5, or Second Class Honours Upper Division. |
| Loughborough University | 5-point scale: First 4, 2:1 3.4, 2:2 2.7. 4-point: 3.5 / 3 / 2.5. 7-point: 6 / 5 / 4. |
| National Universities Commission (NUC) | Marks to grade points (A 70–100 = 5 … F 0–39 = 0); classes from 4.50, 3.50, 2.40, 1.50. |
Estimated conversion table
| CGPA out of 5 (NUC scale) | Estimated US GPA (4.0) | UK class (Loughborough guide) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1.5 | Below a lower second |
| 2 | 2.0 | Below a lower second |
| 2.4 | 2.4 | Below a lower second |
| 3 | 3.0 | Lower second (2:2) |
| 3.5 | 3.3 | Upper second (2:1) |
| 4 | 3.5 | First class |
| 4.5 | 3.7 | First class |
| 5 | 4.0 | First class |
Sources
- National Universities Commission (NUC): Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards, Computing (PDF)
- University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies: International Credentials Equivalencies
- Oregon State University Graduate Admissions: Nigeria requirements
- Loughborough University: Postgraduate qualification equivalencies for international students
Once you have course grades on a 4.0 scale, the GPA calculator turns them into a credit-weighted GPA.