Harvard proposes capping A grades at 20% to tackle grade inflation
Harvard University is proposing to limit the number of top grades awarded to undergraduate students, addressing concerns that grade inflation may undermine the significance of a degree from the institution. The proposal aims to limit A grades to 20 percent of undergraduates, allowing for some flexibility across various courses and departments, pending faculty approval before the 2026-2027 academic year. Amanda Claybaugh, dean of undergraduate education, conveyed this information in an email on Friday, which included a detailed 19-page outline of the plan. The cap would exclude A-minus marks, and the proposal would permit four additional A grades in smaller courses, which typically draw “advanced and highly motivated students.”
The decision arises in the context of growing apprehensions within US higher education regarding the impact of increasing grades on the ability of employers and graduate schools to evaluate student performance effectively. A report from October by Harvard’s Office of Undergraduate Education reveals that the proportion of undergraduate grades awarded as As has significantly increased over the last twenty years. In November 2024, Claybaugh announced the formation of a committee tasked with examining grading policies and exploring potential alternatives. At the beginning of the current semester, she stated that the proportion of “flat As” had decreased to 53 percent, down from 60 percent earlier.
The proposal on Friday highlights concerns expressed by employers and admissions officials, who stated that “Harvard transcripts no longer provide them useful information about the performance and distinction of Harvard students,” leading some to depend on informal networks that favor students with more robust connections. “Ultimately, it will benefit students if employers and graduate admissions committees know that the grades on a Harvard transcript are a more accurate and nuanced reflection of student performance in their courses,” according to the proposal.
Concerns regarding grade inflation have also attracted attention from Washington. Last year, the Trump administration proposed a higher-education “compact” that would connect preferential access to specific federal funding with academic standards at US colleges. This included requirements for standardized testing, such as the SAT or ACT, as well as measures designed to address grade inflation.
