Grade Inflation Crisis at Harvard: 60% of Undergraduate Grades Are Now A's

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Harvard College is facing a significant challenge with grade inflation, as more than half of all grades awarded are now A's. This marks a substantial increase from previous decades, despite ongoing warnings from school officials about this issue.

Approximately 60% of grades distributed in Harvard's undergraduate program are A's, compared to 40% ten years ago and less than 25% two decades ago, according to a recent report from Harvard's Office of Undergraduate Education. This trend is not unique to Harvard, as other elite institutions, including fellow Ivy League schools, are also struggling to address grade inflation.

The report, authored by Harvard undergraduate dean Amanda Claybaugh, strongly encourages faculty to limit the practice of giving top marks to most students, noting that this trend undermines the academic environment.

"Current practices are not only failing to perform the key functions of grading; they are also damaging the academic culture of the college more generally," Claybaugh stated in the report.

Harvard's academic policies are receiving heightened attention due to investigations by the Trump administration into the university and broader initiatives to transform higher education in the United States. Federal officials have requested universities to sign agreements that include commitments to "grade integrity" and the implementation of "defensible standards" in student evaluations.

Claybaugh identified several factors contributing to grade inflation at Harvard. Faculty members are concerned about grading more strictly than their colleagues, which could potentially reduce enrollment in their courses. Additionally, administrators have advised professors to consider that some students struggle with "imposter syndrome" or face challenging family circumstances. The report also notes that Harvard students, while not fitting the "snowflake" stereotype they're sometimes portrayed as, do pressure their professors for higher grades.

The threshold for earning summa cum laude honors at Harvard has increased to 3.989, higher than in previous years. However, the number of first-year students achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA decreased by approximately 12% in the most recent academic year compared to the previous period. Claybaugh views this as progress and a reminder that the university isn't "at the mercy of inexorable trends, that the grades we give don't always have to rise."

The Harvard report recommends that faculty share median grades for courses and review grade distributions over time. A separate university committee is considering allowing professors to award a limited number of A+ grades, which would be a departure from Harvard's current highest grade of A. Such a change "would increase the information our grades provide by distinguishing the very best students," according to Claybaugh.

The report also suggests that administrators can help address grade inflation by placing greater value on rigorous teaching methods during faculty reviews.