What's happened
Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences has voted to limit undergraduate A grades to 20% of a class, with room for four additional A’s in smaller courses, starting fall 2027. The policy also shifts honors comparisons from GPA to average percentile rank. The measure aims to curb grade inflation after data showed a large share of grades were A-range in recent years, with debate echoing in other elite universities.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Harvard is signaling a shift toward restoring grade meaning in a landscape where high grades have become common. This will likely influence student course-taking behavior, with fewer students pursuing only the easiest A-grade options.
- The reliance on average percentile rank for honors could change how students are evaluated for prizes and admissions, potentially increasing emphasis on relative performance within a cohort.
- Critics argue the policy may add stress for instructors and could affect GPA-based evaluation in external contexts; supporters say it restores rigor and risk-taking in coursework.
- The policy’s success will depend on implementation, faculty buy-in across departments, and how graduate programs and employers interpret the new metrics.
- The debate mirrors broader tensions over grading norms in premium institutions and the pressures of AI-assisted learning, which some studies suggest correlate with higher A-rate assignments in certain classes.
How we got here
Harvard’s action follows a broader debate on grade inflation affecting elite universities. In 2025, about 60% of undergraduate grades were A-range, reflecting a trend observed by faculty who argued that grades no longer differentiate truly outstanding work. Other universities have experimented with similar policies, though Harvard’s is among the most expansive in scope.
Our analysis
Harvard University — Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences press release; The Associated Press reporting on the board’s vote; The Washington Post coverage of Yale and other institutions’ responses.
Go deeper
- How will this affect your course choices if you’re applying to Harvard or similar schools?
- What will this mean for employers assessing transcripts and for honors committees?
- Will other universities follow Harvard’s model in the next admissions cycle?
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