Grading System in the USA 2025: Guide for International Students
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Table of Contents
- Education System in the USA
- Grading System in the USA
- Types of US Grades System: Letter and Number Grading System
- Grading System in USA Universities
- Types of US Grading System GPA
- Grading System in US University: Types of Honors Awarded in the USA
- Grading System in the USA vs India
- Secure US Admission and Visa Application Sucess is Possible with GetGIS
Are you gearing up for your study abroad journey in the United States? Have you heard about the 4.0 Grading system in the USA? This will help you navigate through one of the most popular US grading systems its types and details of how to convert Indian CGPA to 4 point GPA scale.
Studying at top universities in the US brings you many unique benefits of studying abroad including high-quality education, globally recognized qualifications, a world of opportunities, etc.
So, let us further delve into decoding the US GPA grading system to equip international students with the needed knowledge about the US grade scales, education system, and essential details.
Education System in the USA
The education system in the USA is known to be one of the top-notch education systems in the world. The course structure in the US universities is outlined in such a way that it ensures academic learning along with an enriching practical experience.
To pursue higher education in the US universities international students need to meet the general eligibility criteria along with university-specific eligibility requirements. Indian students willing to study masters or MS courses in the US would need to convert CGPA to GPA scores to be recognized by US universities.
Grading System in the USA
We understand that the education system in the USA is unique, and its grading system is also unique. The US grades system follows a Grade Point Average (GPA) system to score students' academic performance.
This 4.0 point US GPA grading system is the standardized system that is used across different universities in the United States.
Types of US Grades System: Letter and Number Grading System
Now let us understand the higher education system in the USA. There are two types of grading systems in the USA to derive the GPA point score. The overview of Letter and Number grading system in the USA is as follows:
- The letter grading system in the USA spans from A to F grades, which are also accompanied by a percentage.
- The other form of system is the numerical grading system that spans from 0-100.
| Grade | Description | Percentage Range | GPA Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | The highest grade a student can achieve. Indicates excellent performance. | A+: 97-100% A: 93-100% A-: 90-92% |
3.7 – 4.0 |
| Grade B | Reflects above-average performance, considered a good grade. | B+: 87-89% B: 83-86% B-: 80-82% |
2.7 – 3.0 |
| Grade C | Represents average performance. | C+: 77-79% C: 73-76% C-: 70-72% |
1.7 – 2.0 |
| Grade D | Indicates below-average performance, but still a passing grade. | D+: 67-69% D: 63-66% D-: 60-62% |
0.7 – 1.3 |
| Grade F | The student failed to meet the minimum required performance. | Below 60% | 0 |
Grading System in USA Universities
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the widely used grading system in US universities to assess candidates’ academic performance. The 4 point GPA is a summation of numerical and letter grades to define student performance. These include:
| Grade | GPA | Percentage Range |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 94% – 100% |
| A- | 3.67 | 90% – 93.99% |
| B+ | 3.33 | 87% – 89.99% |
| B | 3 | 83% – 86.99% |
| B- | 2.67 | 80% – 82.99% |
| C+ | 2.33 | 77% – 79.99% |
| C | 2 | 73% – 76.99% |
| C- | 1.67 | 70% – 72.99% |
| D+ | 1.33 | 67% – 69.99% |
| D | 1 | 63% – 66.99% |
| D- | 0.67 | 60% – 62.99% |
| F | 0 | Below 60% |
Types of US Grading System GPA
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is a crucial aspect of the education system in the USA for assessing student academic performance in higher education institutions. The 3 broad categories of GPA in US grading system include:
- Class GPA (GPA): This GPA score is for a particular class that is attended over some time. The scores from other classes might as well be complied for extracting a consolidated score for students.
- Semester GPA (SGPA): The semester based GPA score is calculated for a particular semester. The SGPA is further converted into GPA at the end of each year for a consolidated GPA score.
- Cumulative GPA (CGPA): A CGPA is also a score similar to SGPA that is assigned at the end of each semester, which is further converted into GPA at the end of each year for a consolidated GPA score.
Grading System in US University: Types of Honors Awarded in the USA
As per the grades received by students who qualify as per the grading system in the USA, are awarded honors as per their respective GPA. Every student needs to complete a certain number of credits per semester for each course, and these credits and credit hours are used to calculate the overall grade.
Usually, there are 3 types of honors that are awarded in US universities, that include:
- Cum Laude - With Honor: This honor is awarded to students who have a good academic performance, usually having a Cumulative GPA above 3.5
- Magna Cum Laude - With Great Honor: This honor is awarded to students who have high academic excellence and outstanding academic achievements. The cumulative GPA threshold is usually above 3.7 GPA
- Summa Cum Laude - With Greatest Honor: This is the highest level of honor a student could receive for consistently maintaining exceptional academic records throughout their studies. This honor is rewarded to students with consisted 3.9 and above GPA.
Grading System in the USA vs India
The grading system USA universities is quite different from the Indian one. In the Indian grading system, students' academic performance is analyzed on a GPA scale of 0 - 10, also known as the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Some Indian universities have an already defined CGPA structure while a few universities use a practice of dividing the percentage by 10.
In the USA universities or higher education institutions use a 4.0 GPA scale. The values for each point on the scale are consistent throughout all the universities in bachelor's or master's degree grading scale USA.
However, one crucial point to note here is that both the systems i.e. US grading system and the Indian grading system have a similar principle of evaluation i.e. the students’ performance and their understanding of the course.
Learn how to convert CGPA to GPA to discover your application eligibility to USA universities. Explore the blog for complete details.
Secure US Admission and Visa Application Sucess is Possible with GetGIS
Understanding the grading system in USA is one of the most important aspects of unveiling the education system of the United States, their similarities and differences with our Indian education system. This knowledge also helps students assess their shortcomings and eligibility while gaining a hang of how things would work through their study abroad journey.
Are you also looking for expert assistance to fulfill your aspirations to study in the USA? GetGIS is all you need. From university selection, IELTS training, USA student visa application process, and more we have got you covered.
Check out your ideal intakes in the USA and let's get started with your application process and requisites.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GPA requirement for maintaining scholarships?
How do US universities calculate GPA?
Does GPA matter for master's programs in the USA?
What is the passing grade in the USA?
Is 70% considered an A in the USA?
What grade is 88% in the USA?
Do grades matter in the USA?
