How grading works at Columbia
Columbia grades undergraduates on a scale that runs from 0 to 4.33: A+ (4.33), A (4.00), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.00), B- (2.67), C+ (2.33), C (2.00), C- (1.67), D (1.00), and F (0). Plus and minus grades are used with A, B, and C only — there is no D+, D-, or F variant.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (Grades; Grade Point Average Calculation) — verified Aug 2026
How your GPA is calculated at Columbia
The Registrar weights each course's grade by the number of credits it carries to compute your term and cumulative GPA. Only grades earned while enrolled in Columbia College (or in Columbia-owned summer and study-abroad programs) count toward your Columbia College GPA.
A grade of D still counts toward your GPA, even though no more than six credit-points of D grades can count toward your degree in a given academic year. Grades of P (Pass, under the Pass/D/Fail option) are not included in your GPA, and neither are temporary marks like W (Withdrawal), AR (Administrative Referral), or IN (Incomplete).
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (Grade Point Average Calculation; The Grade of D; The Mark of W) — verified Aug 2026
Good academic standing and probation at Columbia
To remain in good academic standing each term, Columbia College students must complete at least 12 points of coursework and achieve both a term and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Falling near or below a 2.0 GPA, or falling short of the credit minimum, can trigger academic warning, probation, or (in more serious cases) suspension or dismissal.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (Academic Standing and Probation) — verified Aug 2026
Dean's List at Columbia
Each term, Columbia College students who earn a GPA of 3.6 or better in 12 or more points of letter-graded coursework are placed on the Dean's List. A grade of D, a mark of W, or a pending Incomplete or Year Course mark in that term will keep a student off the Dean's List until resolved.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Honors, Prizes, and Fellowships (Dean's List) — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grading scheme does Columbia University use?
Where does this Columbia University grade scale come from?
Does Columbia award an A+, and is it worth more than a 4.0?
Yes. Columbia's Grading Scale table lists A+ as worth 4.33 grade points — a genuine ceiling above the 4.00 awarded for a plain A, not a plus grade capped at the same value. This is stated directly in Columbia College's own Bulletin and confirmed identically on the General Studies Bulletin's grading page.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (Grade Point Average Calculation) — verified Aug 2026
Does Columbia award a D+ or D-?
No. Columbia's plus/minus system applies only to A, B, and C grades. D and F are always awarded as plain letter grades, with no modifier.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (Grades) — verified Aug 2026
Does the Pass/D/Fail option affect my GPA at Columbia?
If you elect the Pass/D/Fail option and earn a C- or higher, your transcript shows P instead of the letter grade, and "the mark of P is not included in the calculation of grade point averages." But if you earn a D or an F, that grade stays on your transcript and is still averaged into your GPA.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (The Pass/D/Fail Option) — verified Aug 2026
Does a Withdrawal (W) affect my GPA at Columbia?
No. A mark of W means "no points of academic credit are earned for classes with a mark of W," and it is not factored into your grade point average. The W notation is permanent on your transcript, even if you repeat the course later.
Source: Columbia College Bulletin, Academic Regulations (The Mark of W); SEAS Bulletin, Academic Procedures and Standards — verified Aug 2026
Do Columbia College, Engineering (SEAS), and General Studies use the same grading scale?
Yes. All three of Columbia's undergraduate colleges share the same 0-4.33 letter scale. The General Studies Bulletin describes the rule as governing "the letter grading system within Columbia's undergraduate colleges" collectively, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science's Bulletin states the identical rule as a formula (a plus or minus adjusts A, B, or C by 0.33 points).
Source: General Studies Bulletin, Grades; SEAS Bulletin, Academic Procedures and Standards — verified Aug 2026
