GPA at Cornell University: The Basics
Cornell University uses a 4.3 grading scale in most of its undergraduate and graduate colleges, which is slightly different from the more common 4.0 scale used at many other institutions. But don’t worry—this guide will walk you through the ins and outs.
At its core, your GPA at Cornell is calculated by multiplying each course’s grade point value by the number of credit hours, summing those, and then dividing by the total number of credit hours you’ve completed.
However, here’s where things get a little Cornell-specific: different colleges within the university might have slightly different policies when it comes to how GPAs are calculated, whether pluses/minuses are weighted, and how pass/fail courses factor in.
Cornell’s Grade Scale
Here’s a standard breakdown of the letter grades and their grade point equivalents at Cornell:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.3 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C− | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D− | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
Some colleges do not use the A+ grade, while others cap it at 4.0 instead of 4.3. Always check your college’s specific policy!
GPA Calculation: Step-by-Step
- Assign Grade Points – Convert each letter grade to its point value.
- Multiply by Credits – Multiply each grade point by the number of credit hours for the course.
- Sum and Divide – Add up all the grade points and divide by the total number of credit hours.
Example:
Let’s say you took the following courses:
- A in a 3-credit course → 4.0 × 3 = 12.0
- B+ in a 4-credit course → 3.3 × 4 = 13.2
- C in a 3-credit course → 2.0 × 3 = 6.0
Total Grade Points: 12.0 + 13.2 + 6.0 = 31.2
Total Credit Hours: 3 + 4 + 3 = 10
GPA = 31.2 / 10 = 3.12
College-Specific Notes
Cornell is made up of several undergraduate and graduate colleges, and each may apply the GPA policy differently:
| College/School | Notes on GPA/Grading |
|---|---|
| College of Arts and Sciences | Uses the 4.3 scale; A+ counts as 4.3 |
| College of Engineering | Uses letter grades with +/−; A+ may count as 4.3 |
| School of Hotel Administration | Strong emphasis on GPA for internships and jobs; uses full grade scale |
| College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) | May convert A+ to 4.0 in some internal GPA calculations |
| College of Architecture, Art, and Planning | Grading can be subjective in studio courses, but GPA still calculated traditionally |
If you’re applying to graduate or professional schools, always confirm how your college calculates and reports your GPA.
What About S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) Grades?
Cornell allows S/U grading for some electives or non-major requirements. These do not affect your GPA, but you typically need a C– or better to earn an “S.”
Honors and GPA Thresholds
Each college sets its own thresholds for Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude). For example:
- Cum Laude: Often starts around 3.5
- Magna Cum Laude: Often 3.7 or higher
- Summa Cum Laude: Often 3.9 or higher
But again, check your college’s policies—some are more competitive than others.