Pick any one. The other two follow.
0.7Choose another grade to compare GPA values.
On this page · 6 sections
| Band | Letter grade | % range | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | |
| Good | B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | |
| Average | C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | |
| Low pass | D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 | |
| Fail | F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
What a D− means
A D− is the lowest non-F grade on this example chart and is worth 0.70 GPA points. Some schools use 0.67; others do not award D− at all. A listed GPA value is not a promise that the grade satisfies your degree requirements.
What can you still reach from a D−?
At 61% with a final worth 30%, reaching D at 63% needs about 67.7% on the final. Reaching C− at 70% takes 91%. A C at 73% would require 101%, beyond a final capped at 100% under this example.
Use your exact current percentage, the final exam’s weight and the course percentage you want. Choose Exact % when your syllabus uses different cutoffs. This calculation assumes the final is the only work remaining.
Only the final exam left?
Use your current course percentage, the final exam’s weight and your target to find the exam score you need. This is for a course still in progress.
| Goal | Example course cutoff | Final score needed |
|---|---|---|
| Keep D− | 60% | 57.7% |
| Reach D | 63% | 67.7% |
| Reach C− | 70% | 91% |
How the calculation works
Required final score = [target − (61 × 0.70)] ÷ 0.30. For a 63% target, that is 67.7%.
Mid-semester: assignments still left?
Use the Grade Calculator to work out your course average and try possible scores for remaining homework, quizzes, exams or projects. Enter the weights from your syllabus.
What percentage is a D−?
On this example scale, D− runs from 60% up to, but not including, 63%. The chart above uses whole-number labels for readability. A score of 62.9% stays in this band before any permitted rounding.
Percentage cutoffs decide the course letter; GPA points decide how that letter enters your GPA. These are separate rules. The school’s registrar publishes the GPA scale, while your syllabus explains course weights, cutoffs and rounding.
Do not count on an automatic round-up
If your course rounds to the nearest whole percent, 62.5% can round to 63%. If it keeps decimals or does not round, it does not. A calculator cannot grant a grade change that your course policy does not allow.
Does a D− earn usable credit?
Check whether your school awards D−, whether it earns credit, and whether the requirement accepts that credit. A D− falls below any requirement stated as D or better, C− or better, or C or better.
If a required grade is mathematically out of reach, talk to your adviser about the next available course offering and the repeat rules. A D− that earns local credit can still be rejected for transfer: the cited University of Minnesota policy does not accept transfer grades below D.
| What you need to know | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Does the course earn credit? | School catalog and transcript legend |
| Does it satisfy this prerequisite or major course? | Specific course listing and program requirements |
| Will another school accept it? | Receiving school’s transfer evaluation |
| Must I repeat it? | Degree audit, adviser and repeat policy |
How many GPA points is a D−?
| Published scale | D− value |
|---|---|
| Stanford general university scale | D− = 0.70 |
| University of Iowa | D− = 0.67 |
For Stanford courses, use the Stanford GPA Calculator. For another institution, find your school in the college GPA calculators or enter its published point values.
For weighted high-school courses, check which classes qualify for a bonus and which grades receive it. Do not automatically add honors or AP points to the college values above.
What will one D− do to your GPA?
Suppose your current GPA is 2.05 over 40 GPA credits, and you add a 3-credit D− worth 0.70. Your new GPA is 1.96. This assumes the course is not already in your starting GPA.
The calculation
(2.05 × 40 + 0.70 × 3) ÷ 43 = 1.9558, or 1.96 rounded to two decimals.
Use credits included in your GPA, which may differ from total earned credits. The button below opens the GPA Calculator for your own course grades.
Already received your final course grade?
Use the GPA Calculator to combine this grade with your other course grades and credits. It calculates your semester or cumulative GPA—not the percentage within this one class. If your starting GPA already includes this course, do not add it again.
If you plan to retake a course already on your transcript, use the Course Repeat GPA Calculator with your school’s policy. For a longer-term goal, use the Raise GPA Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage is a D−?
60% to less than 63% on this example chart. Your syllabus determines the actual cutoffs and rounding policy.
Can I raise a D− to a C with one final?
Sometimes, depending on your current percentage and the final’s weight. With 61% before a final worth 30%, reaching 73% would need 101%. If the exam maximum is 100%, that target is not reachable through the final alone.
What do I need on my final to improve a D−?
It depends on your current percentage, final weight and target. With 61% before a final worth 30%, reaching 63% requires about 67.7% on the final. The example assumes no other work remains.
Can I calculate this from just my letter grade?
Only as an estimate. A letter covers a range of percentages. Enter your exact gradebook percentage for a useful final-exam target, and check how ungraded work is treated.
Does rounding my GPA change my course grade?
No. GPA rounding and course-percentage rounding are separate policies. A displayed GPA does not change the letter your instructor awards.