Grading System
BSU uses a letter-grade system: A (Superior), B (Good), C (Satisfactory), D (Poor), F (Failure). Grades in the A, B, C, and D ranges may carry a plus or minus modifier (no A+ is awarded).
Several symbols carry no numeric value and are not used in computing the GPA: Audit (AU), Pass/No Pass (P/N), Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U), Withdrawn (W/WA), Incomplete (IN/INC/IN.), and transfer symbols (TA, TB+, TC, TD-, TR, etc.).
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - Credit Hour and Grading System — verified Aug 2026
GPA Rules
The GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's grade point value by its credit hours, summing these, and dividing by total credit hours carried; BSU rounds the result to the third decimal place.
Repeat Courses: an undergraduate student may repeat a course through BSU, and the repeated grade replaces the prior grade in the GPA regardless of which is higher; both attempts remain on the transcript, but credit is awarded only once.
GPA Restart: students academically separated or who left with a GPA below 2.0 may, after 3+ years away, apply for a GPA Restart by earning a minimum of 12 credits with at least a 2.25 GPA; prior grades remain on the transcript but are excluded from the recalculated GPA. Available only once.
Optional High Pass, Mid Pass, Low Pass, No Pass (HP/MP/LP/NP): undergraduates may opt into this grading for up to 12 credits of free electives (max 8 per semester) in place of a letter grade. HP/MP/LP earn credit but are excluded from the GPA; NP earns no credit and is excluded from the GPA. Conversion: HP = A through B-, MP = C+ through C-, LP = D+ through D-, NP = F.
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - GPA, Repeat Courses, HP/MP/LP/NP Policy — verified Aug 2026
Academic Standing
Academic standing is assessed each semester from the student's cumulative GPA. Categories: Good Standing (cumulative GPA at or above 2.0); Academic Concern (below 2.0 but above the separation threshold); Academic Intervention (below the minimum required GPA for credits earned, for up to one semester); Academic Separation (below the minimum required GPA and at least one prior semester on Academic Intervention).
Minimum cumulative GPA required to avoid possible academic separation, by total credits earned:
| Total Credits Earned | Possible Separation if GPA Falls Below |
|---|---|
| 0-23 | 1.50 |
| 24-53 | 1.75 |
| 54-83 | 1.85 |
| 84+ | 2.00 |
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - Academic Standards — verified Aug 2026
Graduation Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, students must complete a minimum of 120 earned degree credits and meet these GPA requirements: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (or higher if required by the major); minimum major GPA of 2.0 (or higher if required); minimum minor GPA of 2.0 (or higher if required), each computed on BSU coursework only.
Residency requirements include a minimum of 30 credit hours at BSU as a degree-seeking student and at least 15 of the final 30 credit hours completed at BSU.
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - Graduation Requirements — verified Aug 2026
Honors and Awards
Dean's List: a 3.3 semester GPA is required, with a minimum of 12 credits (full-time) or 6 credits (part-time) and no incomplete grades. Students are not eligible in a semester they use the Optional High Pass, Mid Pass, Low Pass, No Pass grading.
Graduation with Honors (based on final cumulative GPA): summa cum laude requires 3.8 or higher; magna cum laude requires 3.6 to 3.79; cum laude requires 3.3 to 3.59.
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - Dean's List, Graduation With Honors — verified Aug 2026
Transfer Credit
A minimum grade of C- is required to receive transfer credit. Up to 90 credits may be transferred toward a baccalaureate degree, of which no more than 69 credits may come from two-year institutions. Transfer courses do not factor into a student's BSU GPA.
Source: 2025-2026 Catalog, Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures - Transfer of Credit After Admission — verified Aug 2026