To rescale a 5-point CGPA proportionally to a 4-point maximum, multiply by 0.8. A CGPA of 4.50 out of 5 gives 3.60 out of 4. This is an arithmetic estimate, not a verified US GPA equivalent.
If you studied in Nigeria, keep your university’s grading legend with your transcript. This page does not assign US grades from Nigerian percentages or predict a WES report.
The 5.0 to 4.0 formula
Estimated value = CGPA ÷ 5 × 4 = CGPA × 0.8. For 4.25/5, the calculation is 4.25 × 0.8 = 3.40/4. The fraction of the maximum is unchanged, but academic equivalence has not been established.
| Original CGPA out of 5 | Proportional estimate out of 4 |
|---|---|
| 5.00 | 4.00 |
| 4.75 | 3.80 |
| 4.50 | 3.60 |
| 4.25 | 3.40 |
| 4.00 | 3.20 |
| 3.75 | 3.00 |
| 3.50 | 2.80 |
| 3.25 | 2.60 |
| 3.00 | 2.40 |
| 2.50 | 2.00 |
| 2.00 | 1.60 |
Check your original CGPA from course results.
Enter the grade points assigned by your own university, with each course’s counted credits. If your transcript confirms A = 5 and B = 4, enter those points. Do not assume the same letter or percentage always has the same value across institutions.
A credit-weighted example
Suppose your grading legend assigns 5 points to the first course and 4 to the second. If the first course carries 3 credits and the second carries 2, the original CGPA is (5 × 3 + 4 × 2) ÷ 5 = 4.60/5. Its proportional 4-point estimate is 3.68.
The first calculation checks a weighted average under the supplied grade points. The second simply changes the maximum. Neither supplies a foreign credential evaluation.
Why the overall CGPA cannot reveal every course grade
Consider two illustrative records with equal course credits. One has points 5 and 3; the other has points 4 and 4. Both average 4.0/5, although the grade profiles differ. Once only the average remains, a calculator cannot reconstruct which record produced it.
This matters when a receiving institution assesses individual subjects, repeated attempts, or particular years of study. Keep the full transcript. Avoid tools that promise a guaranteed WES-equivalent result from one CGPA number.
WES evaluations and degree classification
For an evaluation, follow the receiving institution’s instructions and consult WES’s own guidance. ScholarshipRoar is not affiliated with WES and does not reproduce its conversion tables.
Use the degree classification printed on your final record. This calculator does not label a result as First Class, Second Class Upper, or Second Class Lower, because it has not verified the regulations that applied to your institution and graduating cohort. A proportional estimate also cannot establish whether a degree meets another country’s classification requirement.
Use your result when researching scholarships
Check requirements in the original scale whenever the provider supplies them. If a program lists only a foreign GPA, ask how it evaluates Nigerian qualifications. Do not abandon an application or pay for an evaluation solely because the proportional number falls on one side of a threshold.
The scholarships for Nigerian students guide is a starting point for comparing opportunities. Read the current provider instructions for nationality, qualification, funding, and application requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What is 4.5 out of 5 on a 4-point scale?
The proportional result is 3.60. Your evaluated GPA may differ; this tool cannot predict it.
Does multiplying by 0.8 always overestimate GPA?
No such general conclusion follows. The formula is a proportional rescaling. Comparing it with an official result requires a verified evaluation of the same academic record.
Can a second-class lower graduate receive a scholarship?
Check the award’s actual academic criteria and any permitted alternative qualifications. A generic converter cannot decide this from the degree class alone.
What if my university uses a 4-point scale?
Keep the stated maximum. Use the GPA tools page for weighted averages on other scales, rather than treating your grade as a 5-point result.
No universal Nigerian-to-US mapping or degree classification is assumed.
Muhammad Faizan
PhD Researcher in Mechanical Engineering & Scholarship Advisor
Muhammad Faizan is the founder of Scholarship Roar and a PhD researcher in mechanical engineering at Adelaide University. He writes scholarship guides and reviews all articles for eligibility, deadlines and application details.
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