Understanding the MIT GPA System
At MIT, the grading system is slightly different from most universities. For undergraduates, GPA is calculated on a 5.0 scale instead of the standard 4.0. Each letter grade is assigned a numerical value from 0.0 to 5.0. Your GPA is the weighted average of these grade points, based on the number of units for each subject.
What’s Unique About MIT’s Grading?
- First-Year Grading Policy: First-year undergraduates benefit from MIT’s supportive transition system:
- Fall term: Classes are graded Pass (P), No Record (NR)
- Spring term: Classes are graded A, B, C, or No Record (NR)
- Add/Drops and Exploratory Subjects: Students can explore subjects without GPA penalties under specific options.
- Graduate Students: Typically follow the letter grade system with GPA values from 0.0 to 5.0. The grading scale is the same, but no first-year grading protections are offered.
MIT Grade Scale Table
| Letter Grade | GPA Value |
|---|---|
| A | 5.0 |
| B | 4.0 |
| C | 3.0 |
| D | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| P (Pass) | Not included in GPA |
| NR (No Record) | Not included in GPA |
| O (Outstanding in PE/Wellness) | Not included in GPA |
| SA (Satisfactory) | Not included in GPA |
| U (Unsatisfactory) | Not included in GPA |
| I (Incomplete) | Not initially included; resolved later |
Note: Only subjects with grades A–F are included in the GPA calculation.
GPA Calculation Example
Let’s say you took the following four classes:
- 12 units, Grade A → 12 × 5.0 = 60
- 9 units, Grade B → 9 × 4.0 = 36
- 6 units, Grade C → 6 × 3.0 = 18
- 3 units, Grade D → 3 × 2.0 = 6
Total points = 60 + 36 + 18 + 6 = 120
Total units = 12 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 30
GPA = 120 ÷ 30 = 4.0
Faculty or Departmental Grading Differences
MIT does not generally differentiate grading policies by department. All departments and courses use the same letter grade to GPA conversion. However, some specific subjects (like PE, UROP, or thesis work) are graded differently—often with Pass/Fail or special notations (like SA/U or P/NR), especially for research, projects, or physical education.
Helpful Notes
- GPA isn’t shown on MIT transcripts unless you request it (commonly for job or graduate school applications).
- Students are encouraged to focus on mastery of material and exploration, rather than GPA obsession.
- Incompletes (I) must be resolved by a set deadline or they convert to an F or permanent notation depending on context.