Harvard University moved to confront grade inflation after faculty voted to cap A grades, acknowledging that undergraduate marks had lost much of their meaning after decades of steady grade escalation across American higher education.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences approved limiting flat A grades to 20 percent of enrollment plus four additional A’s per course, beginning in fall 2027. Faculty voted 458 to 201 for the cap. More than 60 percent of Harvard College grades during the 2024-25 academic year were A’s, up from roughly 24 percent in 2005, while the median cumulative GPA at graduation climbed to 3.83.
Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh had described the grading system as failing students and employers who rely on transcripts to distinguish exceptional work. A companion measure adopting average percentile rank for internal honors also passed, while a satisfactory-plus designation for pass-fail courses was approved separately.
Supporters argued the reforms would restore credibility to academic credentials, while critics warned the changes could increase stress and penalize students from less-resourced high schools who fear a single lower grade. The Office of Undergraduate Education will review the policy after three years of implementation.
Harvard President Alan Garber defended the long-term goals of grading reform while cautioning that strict caps could discourage enrollment in demanding courses. Faculty rejected a companion measure on satisfactory-plus grading by a separate vote, though the A-grade cap passed comfortably.
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Sources:
https://dailycuratednews.substack.com/p/news-headlines-may-22-2026