College Grading Scale: Letter Grades, Percentages, and GPA Points
Updated 11 April 2026
Standard US Grading Scale
The table below shows the most common grading scale used across US high schools and colleges. While specific cutoffs can vary by institution, this scale represents the standard that most students encounter. Some schools use whole letter grades only (A, B, C, D, F) without plus/minus distinctions.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | GPA Points | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100% | 4.0 | Exceptional |
| A | 93-96% | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.3 | Very Good |
| B | 83-86% | 3.0 | Good |
| B- | 80-82% | 2.7 | Good |
| C+ | 77-79% | 2.3 | Above Average |
| C | 73-76% | 2.0 | Average |
| C- | 70-72% | 1.7 | Below Average |
| D+ | 67-69% | 1.3 | Poor |
| D | 63-66% | 1.0 | Poor |
| D- | 60-62% | 0.7 | Barely Passing |
| F | 0-59% | 0.0 | Failing |
Plus/Minus Grading vs Whole Letter
In a plus/minus system, the range for each letter grade is narrower (typically 3-4 percentage points per grade), which means your GPA more precisely reflects your performance. A B+ (3.3) is meaningfully different from a B- (2.7) on your transcript.
In a whole-letter system, B covers the entire range from 80% to 89%, and all students in that range receive a 3.0. This system is simpler but less granular. A student with an 89% and a student with an 80% receive the same GPA points.
Plus/Minus System
An 88% earns a B+ (3.3 GPA). An 82% earns a B- (2.7 GPA). The 0.6 GPA point difference accurately reflects the 6-point performance gap. Most colleges and many high schools use this system.
Whole Letter System
Both an 88% and an 82% earn a B (3.0 GPA). The system treats all performance within the B range identically. This can benefit students near the bottom of a letter grade range and penalise those near the top.
What Is a Passing Grade?
Passing grade thresholds vary by institution type and whether the course counts toward your major or as an elective. The general rule: the higher the academic level, the higher the passing threshold.
| Institution Type | Minimum Passing | For Major Courses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school | D- (60%) | D- (60%) | Some districts require C (70%) for core courses |
| College (elective) | D (63%) | C (73%) | D earns credit but may not satisfy major requirements |
| College (major) | C (73%) | C (73%) | Most programs require C or higher in major courses |
| Graduate school | B (83%) | B (83%) | Below B may trigger academic probation |
How Schools Round Grades
Standard Rounding
89.5% rounds up to 90%, which is an A-. 89.4% stays at 89% and is a B+. This is the most common approach. The rule is straightforward: 0.5 and above rounds up, below 0.5 rounds down. Some schools round to the nearest whole number, others to one decimal place.
Strict Cutoffs
89.9% is still a B+. Only 90.0% and above qualifies as an A-. There is no rounding. This policy is common in STEM departments and competitive programs. If your professor uses strict cutoffs, aim for at least 0.5% above each grade boundary to have a buffer.
Professor Discretion
Some professors round borderline grades based on factors like attendance, participation, improvement over the semester, or effort. A student with an 89.3% who attended every class and participated actively might receive an A- at the professor's discretion. This is not guaranteed and varies widely. Check your syllabus for the stated policy.
International Grading Systems
If you are an international student or transferring between systems, grading scales differ significantly across countries. A 70% in the UK system (First Class Honours) is considered exceptional, while a 70% in the US system is a C-. Direct percentage-to-percentage comparisons are misleading.
| Country | Top Grade | Mid Grade | Minimum Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | A (90-100%) | B (80-89%) | D (60-69%) | F (below 60%) |
| United Kingdom | First (70%+) | 2:1 (60-69%) | Third (40-49%) | Fail (below 40%) |
| Canada | A (80-100%) | B (70-79%) | D (50-59%) | F (below 50%) |
| Australia | HD (85%+) | D (75-84%) | P (50-64%) | F (below 50%) |
Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit
Many colleges allow students to take certain courses on a Pass/Fail (P/F) or Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis. Under this system, you receive credit for the course if you earn at least the passing threshold (usually a C or D, depending on the school), but the grade does not affect your GPA. A Pass appears on your transcript but is excluded from GPA calculation entirely.
When P/F makes strategic sense: if you are taking a course outside your comfort zone (a science major taking an art elective, for example) and you are worried about a low grade pulling down your GPA, P/F protects your average. The trade-off is that a strong grade (an A) also would not boost your GPA.
When to avoid P/F: most graduate programs and professional schools want to see letter grades in prerequisite courses. Taking organic chemistry P/F when applying to medical school sends the wrong signal. Similarly, courses in your major should almost always be taken for a letter grade, as many programs require it.