Drexel University GPA Guide
Drexel University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, uses a standard 4.0 GPA system for both undergraduates and graduate students. Whether you’re a first-year engineering major or deep into law school, understanding how your GPA is calculated is crucial for academic success.
Grading Scale at Drexel
Here’s how Drexel translates letter grades into GPA points:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C− | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| AU (Audit) | 0.0 |
| INC (Incomplete) | 0.0 |
| W (Withdrawn) | 0.0 |
| CR (Credit) | 0.0 |
| NCR (No Credit) | 0.0 |
Grades like AU, INC, W, CR, and NCR don’t impact your GPA, but they’re still recorded on your transcript.
How GPA Is Calculated
Drexel calculates both term and cumulative GPA using this formula:
GPA = (Total Grade Points Earned) ÷ (Total Credit Hours Attempted)
Some important things to keep in mind:
- GPAs are calculated to two decimal places and are not rounded.
- If you repeat a course, all attempts are included in your GPA—unless you file a GPA adjustment petition and it’s approved.
- Only the credits from your first successful completion of a course are included in your earned and passed hours.
Program-Specific Grading Policies
While Drexel mostly uses the same grading scale across departments, there are a few exceptions and additions:
- Kline School of Law: The law school uses a curve system, generally keeping the median GPA between 3.0 and 3.10.
- Graduate Programs: These require students to maintain minimum term GPAs to stay in good academic standing. Departments may also set their own additional requirements.
Always check with your specific college or department for any special grading rules or GPA thresholds.
Other Important Policies
Incompletes (INC)
An “INC” can be assigned if you can’t finish a course on time due to serious circumstances. However, you’ll need to complete the work within one academic year, or it automatically becomes an “F.”
Grade Not Submitted (GNS)
If an instructor doesn’t submit a grade on time, you’ll see “GNS” on your record. If it’s not resolved by the end of the next term, it turns into an “N/F”—which counts as a 0.0 in your GPA.
Repeating Courses
You can petition to exclude the grade of a previous attempt (if you earned a C− or lower) when you retake a course. If the petition is granted, only the new grade counts toward your GPA, though all course attempts will still appear on your transcript.
References
- drexel.edu/drexelcentral/records/grades/gpa/
- drexel.edu/drexelcentral/records/grades/academic-standing/
- drexel.edu/registrar/grades/gpa-calculation