Understanding GPA at Stanford
At Stanford, GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it reflects the average of your course grades, weighted by unit value. Stanford uses a 4.0 grading scale, but with a few unique twists that every student should know.
Stanford’s GPA Basics
GPA at Stanford is calculated by multiplying each course grade’s numeric value by the number of units, summing those values, and dividing by the total number of units taken for a letter grade.
For example, if you got an A (4.0) in a 5-unit course and a B+ (3.3) in a 3-unit course:
(5 units × 4.0) + (3 units × 3.3) = 20 + 9.9 = 29.9
29.9 ÷ 8 units = 3.7375 GPA
This method only includes courses taken for a letter grade. Courses taken pass/no pass (P/NP) or satisfactory/no credit (S/NC) don’t count in your GPA.
Grade Scale at Stanford University
Here’s how Stanford converts letter grades to GPA points:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| 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 |
| NP/NC/F | 0.0 |
Note: While an A+ might feel extra shiny, it doesn’t earn more than a 4.0 in the GPA calculation.
Non-GPA Grades: What Doesn’t Count
Some grades affect your transcript but not your GPA. These include:
- S/NC (Satisfactory/No Credit): Used mostly in graduate courses and some undergrad ones. Neither S nor NC affects GPA.
- P/NP (Pass/No Pass): Undergrads can use this option for some courses, but it doesn’t affect GPA.
- W (Withdrawn): Appears on your transcript but carries no GPA impact.
- I (Incomplete): Temporary grade; no GPA value until replaced.
GPA by School or Department
Stanford does not publicly list GPA policies that differ by school (e.g., School of Engineering vs. School of Humanities). However, grading expectations and course difficulty can vary widely. For example:
- STEM classes tend to curve grades more aggressively.
- Humanities courses may offer more A-range grades but with subjective grading.
- The Law School and Graduate School of Business use different internal grading systems not directly comparable to the undergrad 4.0 scale.
Honors and GPA Thresholds
Stanford awards Latin honors based on GPA percentiles, not fixed thresholds:
- Top 15% – cum laude
- Top 10% of that group – magna cum laude
- Top 5% of that group – summa cum laude
This means there’s no set GPA that guarantees honors—it depends on your class’s overall GPA distribution.