Harvard College to cap number of A grades

The Widener Library on the Harvard campus in Cambridge/ File: Forbes

Harvard College has voted to limit the number of students who can receive A grades, introducing a major reform aimed at tackling long-standing grade inflation at one of the United States’ most prestigious institutions. The new policy, approved by the faculty, will take effect in the fall of 2027. Under the newly adopted “20 plus four” model, no more than 24 students in a class of 100 undergraduates will be allowed to receive A-range grades.

The decision follows growing concerns that grade inflation has weakened the meaning and value of academic distinctions at the college. A 25-page report released in October 2025 warned that Harvard’s grading system was “failing to perform the essential functions of grading.”

According to The Guardian, more than 60% of grades awarded to Harvard undergraduates are currently A grades a sharp increase compared to two decades ago, when only around one-quarter of grades fell into the same category. The report concluded that the trend was harming the college’s academic culture.

Amanda Claybaugh, Dean of Undergraduate Education, said the reform is necessary to “restore the integrity” of the grading system and strengthen academic standards. Faculty members voted 458 to 201 in favor of the proposal to cap A grades. They also approved a second measure that would replace GPA-based evaluations for internal honors with median percentile rankings.

However, a third proposal that would have allowed certain courses using alternative grading systems such as Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, and Satisfactory-Plus to apply for exemptions from the A-grade limit was rejected. The reform has sparked criticism among students. In a February survey, approximately 85% of student respondents said they opposed the proposals.

Despite the backlash, the subcommittee behind the reform argued that the new grading limits would help restore the value and credibility of a Harvard transcript.