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Science GPA Calculator (BCPM)

Calculate your Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math GPA — the science-only figure that medical schools, dental schools, and pharmacy programs evaluate separately from your overall GPA.

Course NameCategoryGradeCredits

Science (BCPM) GPA

3.54

Total Credits

Grade Points

70.7

Courses

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How to Calculate Your Science GPA (BCPM)

The Science GPA — officially called the BCPM GPA by AMCAS — is one of the most scrutinized numbers in medical, dental, and pharmacy school applications. It is calculated using only courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. Every other undergraduate course goes into your Non-Science GPA.

Use the Calculate BCPM tab to enter only your science courses and get your science GPA instantly. Use the Full Breakdown tab to enter all your coursework and see your Science GPA, Non-Science GPA, and Total GPA side by side — the exact breakdown that appears on your AMCAS application.

BCPM GPA Formula

BCPM GPA = Σ(Science Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Total Science Credit Hours

Science courses: Biology · Chemistry · Physics · Math
Grade scale: A/A+ = 4.0 · A- = 3.7 · B+ = 3.3 · B = 3.0 · B- = 2.7 · C+ = 2.3 · C = 2.0 · F = 0.0

AMCAS treats A+ as equal to A (both 4.0). Every attempted science course counts — you cannot exclude a bad semester or replace a failing grade. This is why admissions committees can see your full science trajectory, including any upward trends.

Example BCPM Calculation

Science courses entered:

General Biology I (4 cr, A) → 4.0 × 4 = 16.0 pts

General Chemistry I (4 cr, A-) → 3.7 × 4 = 14.8 pts

Organic Chemistry (3 cr, B+) → 3.3 × 3 = 9.9 pts

Physics I (3 cr, B+) → 3.3 × 3 = 9.9 pts

Calculus I (3 cr, B) → 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 pts

Biochemistry (3 cr, A-) → 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 pts

Total: 70.7 pts ÷ 20 credits = BCPM GPA: 3.54

Which Courses Count as BCPM Science?

AMCAS uses subject area codes from your transcript to classify courses. Common examples by category:

Biology: General Bio, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Immunology, Ecology, Neuroscience, Marine Biology
Chemistry: General Chem, Organic Chem, Analytical Chem, Physical Chem, Biochemistry (if coded CHEM)
Physics: General Physics, Modern Physics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics
Math: Calculus, Statistics (if MATH coded), Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability

Courses that do NOT count as BCPM: Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology (coded PSYC), Sociology, Nutrition, Public Health, and most pre-professional courses. When uncertain, verify using the AMCAS course subject area guide.

BCPM GPA Benchmarks for Medical School

3.7+: Very Competitive — meets or exceeds average matriculant science GPA
3.5–3.69: Competitive — below median at top schools, strong at mid-tier
3.3–3.49: Borderline — strengthening application with post-bacc work is advisable
Below 3.3: Low — consider a formal post-baccalaureate or SMP before applying

According to AAMC, the mean science GPA for all MD matriculants in recent application cycles was approximately 3.65. For the top 20 medical schools, the average is closer to 3.80.

Frequently Asked Questions

Statistics counts as BCPM Math only if it is coded as a MATH course on your transcript. Statistics courses offered by psychology, public health, or social science departments are typically coded as PSYC or STAT — these do not count toward your science GPA. A course titled "MATH 2200: Probability and Statistics" would count; "PSYC 3100: Research Methods and Statistics" would not.

Yes. Post-baccalaureate coursework and Special Master's Programs (SMPs) are designed specifically for this purpose. AMCAS counts post-bacc science courses in your BCPM GPA calculation. A strong performance in post-bacc science courses — typically 30+ credits of A-level work — can meaningfully raise your BCPM GPA and demonstrate readiness for medical school coursework. SMPs, which involve taking first-year medical school classes, carry especially strong signaling value.

This is extremely common among pre-med students. Science courses tend to have steeper grade distributions and are more competitive. If your non-science GPA is significantly higher than your science GPA, admissions committees will notice. While they understand that science courses are harder, a large discrepancy (more than 0.3–0.4 points) may raise questions about your preparedness for the science-intensive medical school curriculum.

No. Computer science courses are classified as non-science in AMCAS regardless of their quantitative nature. The same applies to engineering, informatics, and data science courses. These courses contribute to your non-science GPA and total GPA but not your BCPM science GPA.

Dental school applications use AADSAS, which calculates a similar BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics — note Math is separate in AADSAS). The underlying calculation method is the same: weighted average of grade points by credit hours. The key difference is that AADSAS reports BCP GPA separately from a broader "Total Science GPA" that includes Math. Our Dental School GPA Calculator handles the AADSAS-specific breakdown.