Harvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades at 20% to Combat Inflation
Harvard University faculty voted 458-201 to cap A grades at 20% per undergraduate course (plus four additional A's) starting in the 2027-2028 school year, addressing grade inflation where 60.2% of grades were A's in 2024-2025, up from 25% two decades ago. The policy, opposed by 85% of surveyed students, aims to restore academic distinction but faces criticism over increased stress and potential disadvantages in job and graduate school competition. Similar efforts at Yale and Princeton have had mixed results.
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Harvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades at 20% to Combat Grade Inflation
Harvard University's faculty voted 458-201 to implement a 20% cap on A grades starting in the 2027-2028 school year, responding to data showing 60.2% of undergraduate grades were A's in 2024-2025, up from 25% two decades ago. A 2025 report attributed grade inflation to professors avoiding being seen as demanding, increasingly litigious students, pressure to provide emotional support, and a shift to lower-stakes assignments. The policy allows four additional A's per course enrollment. Yale recently recommended a 3.0 mean GPA standard and contextual transcripts, while Princeton abandoned a similar cap in 2014 after criticism that it disadvantaged students in job and graduate school competition. Harvard students criticized the report as misrepresenting their experience and adding pressure. Dean Amanda Claybaugh called grade inflation a 'complex and thorny issue' but encouraged other institutions to confront it with 'rigor and courage.' The article notes that without broader adoption, employers will receive misleading signals about academic performance.
Reason.comHarvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades at 20% to Combat Grade Inflation
Harvard University's faculty voted 458-201 to implement a 20% cap on A grades starting in the 2027-2028 school year, responding to data showing 60.2% of undergraduate grades were A's in 2024-2025—up from just 25% two decades ago. A 2025 report attributed the inflation to professors avoiding being seen as 'demanding,' increasingly litigious students, and pressure to provide emotional support. The shift from high-stakes exams to lower-stakes assignments also made differentiated assessment difficult. Harvard joins Yale and Princeton in addressing grade inflation, though Princeton abandoned a similar cap after a decade due to concerns about disadvantaging students in job and graduate school competition. Harvard's Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh acknowledged the issue's complexity but urged other institutions to confront it with 'rigor and courage.' The article notes that without broader adoption, employers may receive misleading signals about student performance.
Reason.comHarvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades at 20% to Combat Grade Inflation
Harvard University's faculty voted 458-201 to implement a 20% cap on A grades starting in the 2027-2028 school year, responding to data showing 60.2% of grades awarded in 2024-2025 were A's—up from just 25% two decades ago. A 2025 report attributed the inflation to professors' reluctance to appear demanding, increasingly litigious students, and pressure on faculty to provide emotional support. The school also shifted from high-stakes exams to lower-stakes assignments that were difficult to differentiate. Harvard joins Yale and Princeton in addressing grade inflation, though Princeton abandoned a similar cap after a decade due to concerns about disadvantaging students in job and graduate school competition. Harvard's dean acknowledged the issue is 'complex and thorny' but urged other institutions to confront it with 'rigor and courage.' Students criticized the report as misrepresenting their experience and adding pressure to an already demanding environment.
Reason.comHarvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades at 20% to Combat Grade Inflation
In the 2024–2025 school year, 60.2% of grades awarded at Harvard were A's, a sharp rise from 25% two decades ago. On May 20, 2026, Harvard's faculty voted 458–201 to implement a 20% cap on A grades starting in the 2027–2028 school year, with allowances for four additional A's per course enrollment. A 2025 report attributed the inflation to professors' fear of being seen as demanding, increasingly litigious students, and pressure to provide emotional support, which led to relaxed requirements and grade inflation during remote instruction. Yale and Princeton face similar issues; Princeton abandoned a previous cap after a decade due to student disadvantage in job and graduate school competition. Harvard's dean of Undergraduate Education, Amanda Claybaugh, acknowledged the complexity but urged other institutions to confront grade inflation with 'rigor and courage.' The article notes that without broader adoption of such policies, employers may receive misleading signals about student performance.
Reason.comHarvard Faculty Votes on Proposal to Cap A Grades to Curb Inflation
Harvard University faculty are voting on a significant proposal to combat grade inflation by capping A grades in undergraduate courses at 20% of students, plus four additional individuals. This initiative addresses a surge in top marks, with approximately 60% of grades being A's in the 2024–25 academic year, more than double the rate from 2006. Supporters, including Professor Jason Furman, argue that current grading practices diminish academic distinctions and are fundamentally dishonest. However, the plan faces strong opposition from students and some faculty members. Nearly 85% of undergraduates surveyed oppose the measure, citing concerns that it will increase stress, discourage academic risk-taking, and push students toward easier courses. If approved, the policy is scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2027. Additional measures under consideration include allowing certain courses to use a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading system and replacing GPA with percentile ranks for academic honors. The outcome could influence grading policies at other elite institutions like Yale, Princeton, and Wellesley, where similar efforts have faced mixed results.
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