Grades are assigned only by instructors and are reported only by letter grade. Plus and minus grades are not accepted.
The university uses the following grading system:
Grade Grade-points per credit
- A Excellent 4
- AB Intermediate 3.5
- B Good 3
- BC Intermediate 2.5
- C Fair 2
- D Poor 1
- F Failure 0
The following grades have no associated grade points and are excluded from the graduate Grade Point Average (GPA):
- S Satisfactory
- U Unsatisfactory
- I Incomplete (a temporary grade when work is not completed)
- P Progress
- PI Permanent Incomplete
- DR Dropped
- W Withdrew
- CR Credit
- N No Credit
- IN Incomplete in Credit/No Credit Course (a temporary grade when work is not completed)
- M Missing – used for audited courses
- NR No Report (a temporary grade for a graded course when a final grade has not been submitted by the instructor; a final grade for an audited course when the student did not meet the instructor’s minimum standards)
- NW No Work – used for non-attendance in a course
- Q Question on Credits
GPA Calculation
- To calculate graduate GPA:
- Refer to the list above to find the grade-point value of each letter grade on your transcript.
- Multiply the grade-point value by the number of credits for the course. For example, a three (3) credit AB would be calculated as:
3.5 grade-points for an AB × 3 credits 10.5 grade-points - Continue this calculation for every course numbered 300 and above that you took as a graduate student. Do include independent study courses and seminars. Do not include research courses; each department determines course numbers for their research courses. Do not include courses taken as a University Special student. Add the total number of grade points earned and the total number of credits earned.
- Divide the total number of grade points by the total number of credits.
215 grade-points ÷ 60 credits 3.58 GPA - This final figure is your graduate GPA.
The UW–Madison Cross College Advising Service GPA Calculator may be a useful tool.