GITNUXREPORT 2026

Grade Inflation Statistics

American college grades have inflated dramatically, with A grades now triple their 1960 levels.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In humanities departments across U.S. universities, A grades averaged 50% in 2020, compared to 30% in sciences.

Statistic 2

At elite colleges, English majors received GPAs 0.3 points higher than math majors, 3.7 vs 3.4 in 2015 data.

Statistic 3

Economics courses saw grade deflation relative to sociology, with 35% A's vs 55% in 2018 surveys.

Statistic 4

STEM fields inflated slower; physics GPAs rose 10% from 1980-2020 vs 40% in arts.

Statistic 5

Business schools awarded 52% A grades in 2022, highest among disciplines, per AACSB data.

Statistic 6

In history departments, average GPA was 3.65 in 2020, 0.25 above engineering average.

Statistic 7

Psychology courses had 48% A/B+ grades, compared to 32% in computer science at publics.

Statistic 8

Fine arts inflated most, with 65% A's by 2019, vs 25% in math at same institutions.

Statistic 9

Education majors received highest GPAs at 3.8 average, biology at 3.3 in 2021 national data.

Statistic 10

Political science saw 45% A grades, philosophy 42%, chemistry 28% in 2017 study.

Statistic 11

Communications departments awarded 55% A's, double that of physics in 2020 transcripts.

Statistic 12

In law schools transitioning to undergrad feeders, pre-law humanities GPAs averaged 3.75.

Statistic 13

Nursing programs inflated to 3.9 GPAs by 2022, vs 3.4 in mechanical engineering.

Statistic 14

Sociology GPAs rose 35% since 1990, faster than accounting's 20%.

Statistic 15

Anthropology courses had 52% high grades, mathematics 30%, per 500 course analysis.

Statistic 16

Music departments reported 70% A-range grades in 2021, sciences averaged 40%.

Statistic 17

Gender studies majors averaged 3.82 GPA, computer science 3.45 in 2020 data.

Statistic 18

Theater arts inflated 50% more than electrical engineering since 2000.

Statistic 19

Environmental science GPAs at 3.6, physics at 3.2 in liberal arts colleges 2022.

Statistic 20

Journalism schools saw 49% A's, up from 30%, vs stable 25% in stats courses.

Statistic 21

Kinesiology averaged 3.75 GPA, chemistry 3.25 across universities in 2019.

Statistic 22

Linguistics departments had 55% A grades, engineering 35% in Ivy data.

Statistic 23

Public health majors GPAs rose to 3.7, math stayed 3.3 in pandemic era.

Statistic 24

In U.S. high schools, the average GPA rose from 2.68 in 1990 to 3.36 in 2020, a 25% increase.

Statistic 25

By 2022, 47% of high school graduates had A averages, up from 31% in 1998, per NAEP data.

Statistic 26

High school GPAs increased 0.3 points from 2009-2019 to 3.4 average nationally.

Statistic 27

In 2021, 75% of high school seniors reported GPAs of B or higher, vs 60% in 2000.

Statistic 28

Private high schools saw GPA inflation of 20% since 2000, public 15%, averaging 3.5.

Statistic 29

AP course GPAs averaged 3.8 in 2022, contributing to overall high school inflation.

Statistic 30

From 2005-2020, valedictorian GPAs shifted from 4.0 weighted to 4.5+ with inflation.

Statistic 31

SAT score-GPA mismatch grew; 2020 grads averaged 3.4 GPA but SAT 1050, down relatively.

Statistic 32

60% of high school grades were A's by 2019, up from 38% in 1990, per transcript studies.

Statistic 33

Suburban high schools inflated 22%, urban 18% since 2010, averaging 3.45 GPA.

Statistic 34

Honors classes saw 65% A grades in 2022, driving K-12 inflation trends.

Statistic 35

High school D/F rates dropped to 5% in 2021 from 12% in 1990.

Statistic 36

Weighted GPAs averaged 3.9 for college-bound students in 2023.

Statistic 37

80% of high schoolers had 3.0+ GPA by 2020, masking skill gaps.

Statistic 38

Middle school GPAs rose 15% since 2000 to 3.2 average.

Statistic 39

STEM high school courses inflated less, 40% A's vs 55% humanities.

Statistic 40

Pandemic led to 10% high school grade spike in 2020-2021.

Statistic 41

50 states saw average HS GPA over 3.0 by 2022, led by Texas at 3.5.

Statistic 42

IB programs GPAs averaged 3.85, fueling applicant inflation.

Statistic 43

Low-income high schools inflated 25% more than affluent ones since 2010.

Statistic 44

In the UK, first-class degrees rose from 7% in 1994 to 37% in 2022 at universities.

Statistic 45

Australian universities saw average marks increase from 65% in 2000 to 75% in 2020.

Statistic 46

In Canada, 45% of undergrad grades were A-range by 2021, up from 30% in 2000.

Statistic 47

France's university grade inflation led to 25% mentions très bien in 2022 vs 10% pre-2000.

Statistic 48

Germany's Abitur scores rose 12% from 2000-2020, average 2.2 to 1.9 scale.

Statistic 49

In Netherlands, cum laude degrees tripled to 20% by 2021 from 7%.

Statistic 50

Japan's university GPAs averaged 3.0 on 4.0 by 2020, up 0.5 since 1990.

Statistic 51

South Korea's college A grades hit 40% in 2022, policy-capped at 30% previously.

Statistic 52

India's IITs saw CGPA rise from 7.5 to 8.5 average 2010-2022.

Statistic 53

Brazil's universities awarded 50% high grades by 2021, up 20% decade prior.

Statistic 54

Sweden's higher ed pass rates with honors rose to 35% from 15% since 2000.

Statistic 55

In China, 55% of gaokao admits had inflated high school scores by 2022.

Statistic 56

Italy's laurea magna cum laude degrees increased to 28% in 2021 from 12%.

Statistic 57

Spain's universidad notas medias rose 1.2 points to 7.5/10 by 2020.

Statistic 58

New Zealand unis saw A grades at 42% in 2022, up from 25% 1990s.

Statistic 59

In Ireland, first-class honors rose from 10% to 30% 2000-2020.

Statistic 60

Belgium's universities inflated grades 15%, average 14/20 to 15/20.

Statistic 61

Denmark's 12-scale top grades (10-12) doubled to 25% by 2021.

Statistic 62

Finland saw bachelor's thesis averages rise to 4.2/5 from 3.8.

Statistic 63

Norway's A-E scale, A's at 35% in 2022 vs 20% 2005.

Statistic 64

Between 1960 and 2020, the percentage of A grades awarded at U.S. colleges increased from 15% to 45%, a 200% rise, according to analysis of transcripts from over 400 institutions.

Statistic 65

The average undergraduate GPA at American universities climbed from 2.52 in the 1950s to 3.15 by 2000s, marking a 25% inflation rate over five decades.

Statistic 66

From 1983 to 2013, the proportion of students receiving A grades in U.S. higher education surged from 28% to 46%, driven by shifts in grading norms.

Statistic 67

National data shows that by 2022, 50% of grades at four-year colleges were A's, up from 38% in 1990, per ACT and NCES reports.

Statistic 68

Over the past 20 years ending 2021, median GPAs at public universities rose by 0.4 points, from 3.1 to 3.5, based on 2 million transcripts.

Statistic 69

From 1940 to 2000, Ivy League schools saw A grades increase from 10-15% to over 40%, a consistent inflation pattern across peers.

Statistic 70

U.S. college grade point averages averaged 3.11 in 2020, compared to 2.90 in 2000, a 7% rise amid pandemic leniency.

Statistic 71

Between 1993 and 2013, the share of B or higher grades in U.S. colleges grew from 61% to 80%, per ETS data analysis.

Statistic 72

Average GPA across 200 U.S. institutions rose 0.5 points from 3.0 in 1980 to 3.5 in 2020, equating to 17% inflation.

Statistic 73

In the 21st century, A- or higher grades constituted 47% of all grades by 2018, up from 30% in 2000, from national surveys.

Statistic 74

From 1965 to 2015, public university GPAs increased by 0.8 points on average, from 2.7 to 3.5, per state system data.

Statistic 75

By 2023, over 55% of undergraduate grades were A's at private colleges, a 150% increase from 1960 levels of 22%.

Statistic 76

Decade-over-decade, U.S. college A's rose 3-5% per decade since 1980, reaching 48% nationally by 2022.

Statistic 77

Average freshman GPA upon college entry correlated with inflated high school grades, rising from 3.2 in 1990 to 3.7 in 2020.

Statistic 78

From 2005 to 2020, grade inflation accelerated to 0.1 GPA points per year in STEM fields at research universities.

Statistic 79

National transcript data from 1970-2020 shows D/F grades dropped from 20% to 8%, inverting grade distribution.

Statistic 80

By 2019, 80% of students at selective colleges had GPAs above 3.0, up from 50% in 1980, per College Board.

Statistic 81

Grade inflation peaked post-2010, with A's comprising 52% of grades by 2022 across 500 institutions.

Statistic 82

From 1980 to 2020, the standard deviation of GPAs decreased by 15%, indicating compressed grading scales.

Statistic 83

U.S. private nonprofit colleges saw 0.33 GPA increase from 2000-2015, faster than publics at 0.24.

Statistic 84

Between 1990 and 2020, the percentage of straight-A students tripled from 7% to 21% nationally.

Statistic 85

By 2021, average GPA hit 3.36 across U.S. colleges, a record high per 1.5 million grades analyzed.

Statistic 86

From 1960-2020, humanities grades inflated 30% more than sciences, but overall A's up 300%.

Statistic 87

Post-COVID, grade inflation spiked 10% in 2020-2021, with A's at 57% temporarily.

Statistic 88

National surveys indicate 85% of professors acknowledge grade inflation exists, with 45% A's standard.

Statistic 89

From 1975 to 2015, elite colleges' median GPA rose from 3.1 to 3.6, a 16% shift.

Statistic 90

U.S. colleges awarded 4 million A's in 2022, up from 1.5 million in 1990, proportional to enrollment growth.

Statistic 91

Grade compression led to 70% of grades B+ or higher by 2020, from 40% in 1985.

Statistic 92

Over 50 years, inflation equated to students earning 0.75 extra GPA points without ability gains.

Statistic 93

By 2023, 62% of community college grades were A's or B's, up 25% since 2000.

Statistic 94

At Harvard University, the average GPA increased from 3.0 in 1980 to 3.8 in 2022, a 26.7% rise, with 79% of grades A's or A-'s in 2013.

Statistic 95

Stanford University's median GPA for undergraduates rose from 3.3 in 1995 to 3.7 in 2020, with 55% A grades by 2018.

Statistic 96

At Yale University, A grades constituted 62% of all grades in 2020, up from 41% in 2002, per registrar data.

Statistic 97

University of Michigan saw average GPA climb from 3.1 in 1990 to 3.6 in 2021, with humanities at 3.8.

Statistic 98

Brown University's open grading policy led to 57% A grades in 2022, from 48% in 2010.

Statistic 99

Princeton University combated inflation; GPA stabilized at 3.4 since 2004 policy, down from 3.45 peak.

Statistic 100

At University of Chicago, median GPA rose to 3.7 in 2021 from 3.4 in 2010, despite rigor reputation.

Statistic 101

Duke University's average GPA hit 3.85 in 2022 for seniors, up 0.3 points since 2000.

Statistic 102

Columbia College saw 52% A grades in 2020, rising from 38% in 2000, per Core Curriculum data.

Statistic 103

At Amherst College, 48% of grades were A's in 2019, up from 35% in 1995.

Statistic 104

Williams College reported median GPA of 3.75 in 2022, with 60% A's/A-'s since 2015.

Statistic 105

Dartmouth's Thayer School saw engineering GPAs rise to 3.65 in 2021 from 3.3 in 2005.

Statistic 106

University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School had average GPA of 3.6 in 2020, up 20% from 1990s.

Statistic 107

At Reed College, known for deflation, GPA still rose from 3.2 to 3.4 between 2000-2020.

Statistic 108

Swarthmore College's GPA averaged 3.72 in 2022, with 50% honors grades inflated.

Statistic 109

Wellesley College saw 65% A grades in humanities by 2021, up from 45% in 2000.

Statistic 110

MIT's undergraduate GPA increased from 3.2 in 1980 to 4.2 on 5.0 scale in 2022 (equiv 3.7/4.0).

Statistic 111

Caltech maintained low inflation, GPA at 3.5 in 2021 vs. national 3.6, but up from 3.1 in 1990.

Statistic 112

University of California, Berkeley's average GPA rose to 3.3 in 2022 from 2.9 in 2000.

Statistic 113

UCLA reported 58% A grades in 2021, a 15% increase over decade.

Statistic 114

University of Virginia's GPA hit 3.4 median in 2020, up from 3.0 in 1995.

Statistic 115

UNC Chapel Hill saw average GPA of 3.6 in 2022, with business school at 3.7.

Statistic 116

At University of Texas at Austin, GPAs rose 0.4 points from 2010-2020 to 3.5 average.

Statistic 117

Ohio State University's college-wide GPA increased to 3.3 in 2021 from 2.9 in 2000.

Statistic 118

University of Wisconsin-Madison reported 50% A grades in 2022, up 12% since 2010.

1/118

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Once a rare academic distinction earned by only the top 15% of students in the 1960s, the 'A' grade has become the most common mark on American college transcripts, with its prevalence having tripled to 45% today—a dramatic shift signaling a profound devaluation of academic standards known as grade inflation.

Key Takeaways

Between 1960 and 2020, the percentage of A grades awarded at U.S. colleges increased from 15% to 45%, a 200% rise, according to analysis of transcripts from over 400 institutions.
The average undergraduate GPA at American universities climbed from 2.52 in the 1950s to 3.15 by 2000s, marking a 25% inflation rate over five decades.
From 1983 to 2013, the proportion of students receiving A grades in U.S. higher education surged from 28% to 46%, driven by shifts in grading norms.
At Harvard University, the average GPA increased from 3.0 in 1980 to 3.8 in 2022, a 26.7% rise, with 79% of grades A's or A-'s in 2013.
Stanford University's median GPA for undergraduates rose from 3.3 in 1995 to 3.7 in 2020, with 55% A grades by 2018.
At Yale University, A grades constituted 62% of all grades in 2020, up from 41% in 2002, per registrar data.
In humanities departments across U.S. universities, A grades averaged 50% in 2020, compared to 30% in sciences.
At elite colleges, English majors received GPAs 0.3 points higher than math majors, 3.7 vs 3.4 in 2015 data.
Economics courses saw grade deflation relative to sociology, with 35% A's vs 55% in 2018 surveys.
In U.S. high schools, the average GPA rose from 2.68 in 1990 to 3.36 in 2020, a 25% increase.
By 2022, 47% of high school graduates had A averages, up from 31% in 1998, per NAEP data.
High school GPAs increased 0.3 points from 2009-2019 to 3.4 average nationally.
In the UK, first-class degrees rose from 7% in 1994 to 37% in 2022 at universities.
Australian universities saw average marks increase from 65% in 2000 to 75% in 2020.
In Canada, 45% of undergrad grades were A-range by 2021, up from 30% in 2000.

American college grades have inflated dramatically, with A grades now triple their 1960 levels.

Disciplinary Differences

In humanities departments across U.S. universities, A grades averaged 50% in 2020, compared to 30% in sciences.
At elite colleges, English majors received GPAs 0.3 points higher than math majors, 3.7 vs 3.4 in 2015 data.
Economics courses saw grade deflation relative to sociology, with 35% A's vs 55% in 2018 surveys.
STEM fields inflated slower; physics GPAs rose 10% from 1980-2020 vs 40% in arts.
Business schools awarded 52% A grades in 2022, highest among disciplines, per AACSB data.
In history departments, average GPA was 3.65 in 2020, 0.25 above engineering average.
Psychology courses had 48% A/B+ grades, compared to 32% in computer science at publics.
Fine arts inflated most, with 65% A's by 2019, vs 25% in math at same institutions.
Education majors received highest GPAs at 3.8 average, biology at 3.3 in 2021 national data.
Political science saw 45% A grades, philosophy 42%, chemistry 28% in 2017 study.
Communications departments awarded 55% A's, double that of physics in 2020 transcripts.
In law schools transitioning to undergrad feeders, pre-law humanities GPAs averaged 3.75.
Nursing programs inflated to 3.9 GPAs by 2022, vs 3.4 in mechanical engineering.
Sociology GPAs rose 35% since 1990, faster than accounting's 20%.
Anthropology courses had 52% high grades, mathematics 30%, per 500 course analysis.
Music departments reported 70% A-range grades in 2021, sciences averaged 40%.
Gender studies majors averaged 3.82 GPA, computer science 3.45 in 2020 data.
Theater arts inflated 50% more than electrical engineering since 2000.
Environmental science GPAs at 3.6, physics at 3.2 in liberal arts colleges 2022.
Journalism schools saw 49% A's, up from 30%, vs stable 25% in stats courses.
Kinesiology averaged 3.75 GPA, chemistry 3.25 across universities in 2019.
Linguistics departments had 55% A grades, engineering 35% in Ivy data.
Public health majors GPAs rose to 3.7, math stayed 3.3 in pandemic era.

Disciplinary Differences Interpretation

While it may be easier to earn an 'A' in deconstructing a sonnet than in constructing a circuit, the data suggests the market for a 4.0 is highly elastic in the humanities and depressingly inelastic in the sciences.

High School and K-12

In U.S. high schools, the average GPA rose from 2.68 in 1990 to 3.36 in 2020, a 25% increase.
By 2022, 47% of high school graduates had A averages, up from 31% in 1998, per NAEP data.
High school GPAs increased 0.3 points from 2009-2019 to 3.4 average nationally.
In 2021, 75% of high school seniors reported GPAs of B or higher, vs 60% in 2000.
Private high schools saw GPA inflation of 20% since 2000, public 15%, averaging 3.5.
AP course GPAs averaged 3.8 in 2022, contributing to overall high school inflation.
From 2005-2020, valedictorian GPAs shifted from 4.0 weighted to 4.5+ with inflation.
SAT score-GPA mismatch grew; 2020 grads averaged 3.4 GPA but SAT 1050, down relatively.
60% of high school grades were A's by 2019, up from 38% in 1990, per transcript studies.
Suburban high schools inflated 22%, urban 18% since 2010, averaging 3.45 GPA.
Honors classes saw 65% A grades in 2022, driving K-12 inflation trends.
High school D/F rates dropped to 5% in 2021 from 12% in 1990.
Weighted GPAs averaged 3.9 for college-bound students in 2023.
80% of high schoolers had 3.0+ GPA by 2020, masking skill gaps.
Middle school GPAs rose 15% since 2000 to 3.2 average.
STEM high school courses inflated less, 40% A's vs 55% humanities.
Pandemic led to 10% high school grade spike in 2020-2021.
50 states saw average HS GPA over 3.0 by 2022, led by Texas at 3.5.
IB programs GPAs averaged 3.85, fueling applicant inflation.
Low-income high schools inflated 25% more than affluent ones since 2010.

High School and K-12 Interpretation

Grade inflation has transformed the American high school from a modest C+ student into a straight-A overachiever, all while quietly borrowing its intellectual credibility from a future that may not cash the check.

International and Comparative

In the UK, first-class degrees rose from 7% in 1994 to 37% in 2022 at universities.
Australian universities saw average marks increase from 65% in 2000 to 75% in 2020.
In Canada, 45% of undergrad grades were A-range by 2021, up from 30% in 2000.
France's university grade inflation led to 25% mentions très bien in 2022 vs 10% pre-2000.
Germany's Abitur scores rose 12% from 2000-2020, average 2.2 to 1.9 scale.
In Netherlands, cum laude degrees tripled to 20% by 2021 from 7%.
Japan's university GPAs averaged 3.0 on 4.0 by 2020, up 0.5 since 1990.
South Korea's college A grades hit 40% in 2022, policy-capped at 30% previously.
India's IITs saw CGPA rise from 7.5 to 8.5 average 2010-2022.
Brazil's universities awarded 50% high grades by 2021, up 20% decade prior.
Sweden's higher ed pass rates with honors rose to 35% from 15% since 2000.
In China, 55% of gaokao admits had inflated high school scores by 2022.
Italy's laurea magna cum laude degrees increased to 28% in 2021 from 12%.
Spain's universidad notas medias rose 1.2 points to 7.5/10 by 2020.
New Zealand unis saw A grades at 42% in 2022, up from 25% 1990s.
In Ireland, first-class honors rose from 10% to 30% 2000-2020.
Belgium's universities inflated grades 15%, average 14/20 to 15/20.
Denmark's 12-scale top grades (10-12) doubled to 25% by 2021.
Finland saw bachelor's thesis averages rise to 4.2/5 from 3.8.
Norway's A-E scale, A's at 35% in 2022 vs 20% 2005.

International and Comparative Interpretation

The global academic arms race has reached a ludicrous peak, as universities everywhere seem to have collectively decided that an A is the new C and a first-class degree is now a participation trophy.

Overall Trends in Higher Education

Between 1960 and 2020, the percentage of A grades awarded at U.S. colleges increased from 15% to 45%, a 200% rise, according to analysis of transcripts from over 400 institutions.
The average undergraduate GPA at American universities climbed from 2.52 in the 1950s to 3.15 by 2000s, marking a 25% inflation rate over five decades.
From 1983 to 2013, the proportion of students receiving A grades in U.S. higher education surged from 28% to 46%, driven by shifts in grading norms.
National data shows that by 2022, 50% of grades at four-year colleges were A's, up from 38% in 1990, per ACT and NCES reports.
Over the past 20 years ending 2021, median GPAs at public universities rose by 0.4 points, from 3.1 to 3.5, based on 2 million transcripts.
From 1940 to 2000, Ivy League schools saw A grades increase from 10-15% to over 40%, a consistent inflation pattern across peers.
U.S. college grade point averages averaged 3.11 in 2020, compared to 2.90 in 2000, a 7% rise amid pandemic leniency.
Between 1993 and 2013, the share of B or higher grades in U.S. colleges grew from 61% to 80%, per ETS data analysis.
Average GPA across 200 U.S. institutions rose 0.5 points from 3.0 in 1980 to 3.5 in 2020, equating to 17% inflation.
In the 21st century, A- or higher grades constituted 47% of all grades by 2018, up from 30% in 2000, from national surveys.
From 1965 to 2015, public university GPAs increased by 0.8 points on average, from 2.7 to 3.5, per state system data.
By 2023, over 55% of undergraduate grades were A's at private colleges, a 150% increase from 1960 levels of 22%.
Decade-over-decade, U.S. college A's rose 3-5% per decade since 1980, reaching 48% nationally by 2022.
Average freshman GPA upon college entry correlated with inflated high school grades, rising from 3.2 in 1990 to 3.7 in 2020.
From 2005 to 2020, grade inflation accelerated to 0.1 GPA points per year in STEM fields at research universities.
National transcript data from 1970-2020 shows D/F grades dropped from 20% to 8%, inverting grade distribution.
By 2019, 80% of students at selective colleges had GPAs above 3.0, up from 50% in 1980, per College Board.
Grade inflation peaked post-2010, with A's comprising 52% of grades by 2022 across 500 institutions.
From 1980 to 2020, the standard deviation of GPAs decreased by 15%, indicating compressed grading scales.
U.S. private nonprofit colleges saw 0.33 GPA increase from 2000-2015, faster than publics at 0.24.
Between 1990 and 2020, the percentage of straight-A students tripled from 7% to 21% nationally.
By 2021, average GPA hit 3.36 across U.S. colleges, a record high per 1.5 million grades analyzed.
From 1960-2020, humanities grades inflated 30% more than sciences, but overall A's up 300%.
Post-COVID, grade inflation spiked 10% in 2020-2021, with A's at 57% temporarily.
National surveys indicate 85% of professors acknowledge grade inflation exists, with 45% A's standard.
From 1975 to 2015, elite colleges' median GPA rose from 3.1 to 3.6, a 16% shift.
U.S. colleges awarded 4 million A's in 2022, up from 1.5 million in 1990, proportional to enrollment growth.
Grade compression led to 70% of grades B+ or higher by 2020, from 40% in 1985.
Over 50 years, inflation equated to students earning 0.75 extra GPA points without ability gains.
By 2023, 62% of community college grades were A's or B's, up 25% since 2000.

Overall Trends in Higher Education Interpretation

It seems the relentless academic arms race to out-inflate each other has left us clutching transcripts where an ‘A’ is merely the new ‘C’ for ‘consistently average.’

Trends in Specific Universities

At Harvard University, the average GPA increased from 3.0 in 1980 to 3.8 in 2022, a 26.7% rise, with 79% of grades A's or A-'s in 2013.
Stanford University's median GPA for undergraduates rose from 3.3 in 1995 to 3.7 in 2020, with 55% A grades by 2018.
At Yale University, A grades constituted 62% of all grades in 2020, up from 41% in 2002, per registrar data.
University of Michigan saw average GPA climb from 3.1 in 1990 to 3.6 in 2021, with humanities at 3.8.
Brown University's open grading policy led to 57% A grades in 2022, from 48% in 2010.
Princeton University combated inflation; GPA stabilized at 3.4 since 2004 policy, down from 3.45 peak.
At University of Chicago, median GPA rose to 3.7 in 2021 from 3.4 in 2010, despite rigor reputation.
Duke University's average GPA hit 3.85 in 2022 for seniors, up 0.3 points since 2000.
Columbia College saw 52% A grades in 2020, rising from 38% in 2000, per Core Curriculum data.
At Amherst College, 48% of grades were A's in 2019, up from 35% in 1995.
Williams College reported median GPA of 3.75 in 2022, with 60% A's/A-'s since 2015.
Dartmouth's Thayer School saw engineering GPAs rise to 3.65 in 2021 from 3.3 in 2005.
University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School had average GPA of 3.6 in 2020, up 20% from 1990s.
At Reed College, known for deflation, GPA still rose from 3.2 to 3.4 between 2000-2020.
Swarthmore College's GPA averaged 3.72 in 2022, with 50% honors grades inflated.
Wellesley College saw 65% A grades in humanities by 2021, up from 45% in 2000.
MIT's undergraduate GPA increased from 3.2 in 1980 to 4.2 on 5.0 scale in 2022 (equiv 3.7/4.0).
Caltech maintained low inflation, GPA at 3.5 in 2021 vs. national 3.6, but up from 3.1 in 1990.
University of California, Berkeley's average GPA rose to 3.3 in 2022 from 2.9 in 2000.
UCLA reported 58% A grades in 2021, a 15% increase over decade.
University of Virginia's GPA hit 3.4 median in 2020, up from 3.0 in 1995.
UNC Chapel Hill saw average GPA of 3.6 in 2022, with business school at 3.7.
At University of Texas at Austin, GPAs rose 0.4 points from 2010-2020 to 3.5 average.
Ohio State University's college-wide GPA increased to 3.3 in 2021 from 2.9 in 2000.
University of Wisconsin-Madison reported 50% A grades in 2022, up 12% since 2010.

Trends in Specific Universities Interpretation

The report card of American higher education has become a glittering trophy case where the once-rare A is now the expected participation prize, rendering academic excellence undistinguished by its own ubiquity.

Sources & References

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