How the GPA System Works at the University of Michigan
At the University of Michigan (U-M), your GPA is a numerical representation of your academic performance. It’s calculated on a 4.0 scale, and every graded course you take contributes to your cumulative GPA—except for pass/fail or credit/no credit courses, which don’t affect it.
Each letter grade has a corresponding point value, and your GPA is computed by dividing the total grade points you’ve earned by the total number of graded credit hours you’ve attempted. This number is updated every term.
Let’s break it down.
U-M Grade Scale
Here’s how letter grades at Michigan translate to grade points:
| Letter Grade | Grade Point Value |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| E (Fail) | 0.0 |
| I (Incomplete) | Not calculated |
| NR (No Report) | Not calculated |
| P (Pass) | Not calculated |
| CR (Credit) | Not calculated |
Note: A+ does not carry more than 4.0—so perfection doesn’t boost you above the ceiling.
How to Calculate Your GPA
- Multiply each course’s grade point value by the number of credit hours it carries.
- Add up all the grade points you’ve earned.
- Add up the total number of graded credit hours.
- Divide the total grade points by total graded credit hours.
Example:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math 115 | A− | 4 | 3.7 × 4 = 14.8 |
| Chem 130 | B | 3 | 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 |
| Psych 111 | A | 4 | 4.0 × 4 = 16.0 |
Total: 39.8 grade points ÷ 11 credits = GPA: 3.62
Special Grading Notes by Program
College of Engineering
- Pass/Fail restrictions: Only applies to humanities/social science electives.
- Engineering courses must be taken for a letter grade if they’re part of your core curriculum.
Ross School of Business (BBA & MBA)
- Uses the same 4.0 scale.
- Grading is often norm-referenced, meaning certain GPA distributions are recommended to professors.
- For BBAs, the median GPA target is around 3.3 to 3.5.
Law School
- Operates on a numeric scale (65–100) rather than letter grades.
- These are later converted to a GPA internally.
Medical School
- Pass/Fail system in early years; letter grades are not used in preclinical courses.
- Clinical rotations may be graded Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail.
School of Public Health, School of Education, etc.
- Follow the standard U-M grade scale unless specified otherwise in their academic policies.
What Doesn’t Affect Your GPA?
- Courses with grades of P (Pass), CR (Credit), I (Incomplete), or W (Withdrawal) don’t affect your GPA.
- Transfer credits appear on your transcript but don’t count in your U-M GPA.