How grading works at Dartmouth
Dartmouth's grading scale runs from A (4.00) down to E (0.00), with A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- in between — there is no A+, D+, or D-, and the failing grade is lettered E, not F. This ten-letter set has been in place since the fall term of 1973-1974.
Dartmouth also computes an internal “quality points” figure that is exactly three times each grade's usual point value (so A = 12, B+ = 10, and so on) — it's the same scale restated at a different multiple, not a separate scheme, used to reduce rounding error in the GPA calculation.
Source: Grade Descriptions accordion table; ORC Scholarship Ratings chapter (grade set since 1973-74) — verified Aug 2026
How your GPA is calculated at Dartmouth
Dartmouth's GPA calculation includes solely courses taken at Dartmouth on the regular A-through-E scale. The university computes the GPA to 14 decimal places internally, then applies standard rounding to two decimal places (only the digit immediately after the final decimal place is examined for rounding).
Failing a course and retaking it doesn't erase the first attempt. If you elect to take a failed course again, both grades are recorded and included in your cumulative GPA — only one course credit is earned, and the same principle applies to Credit/No Credit courses.
An E grade doesn't count toward the 35-course minimum needed to graduate, but it is a permanent part of your record and is included in every GPA calculation.
Source: ORC Scholarship Ratings chapter; GPA Calculation & Standard Rounding page — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I save my semesters and track my CGPA at Dartmouth College?
How do I convert SGPA to CGPA at Dartmouth College?
Can I add past semester GPAs without entering every course?
Is my CGPA tracker data sent to your servers?
Is this Dartmouth College GPA calculator free?
Does Dartmouth award an A+?
No. Dartmouth's scale tops out at A (4.00) — there is no A+, and no D+ or D- either. The D-level row is a single undivided D (1.00).
Source: Grade Descriptions accordion table; ORC Scholarship Ratings chapter — verified Aug 2026
Why is Dartmouth's failing grade E instead of F?
Dartmouth simply uses the letter E for its lowest grade rather than F — it carries 0.00 grade points, same as an F would elsewhere, and counts fully in your GPA. The one place it's treated differently is course-count: an E doesn't add toward the 35-course graduation minimum, even though it's permanently on your record and averaged normally.
Source: ORC Scholarship Ratings chapter (E grade, graduation course-count carve-out) — verified Aug 2026
What do NR, ON, AD, I, and W mean on a Dartmouth transcript?
None of these carry a grade-point value of their own, and Dartmouth's GPA calculation includes solely courses graded A through E — so none of them factor into your GPA. NR (Non-Recorded) is a standing available under the Non-Recording Option in place of a low grade (not available if the underlying grade is E). ON (On-Going) and AD (Administrative Delay) are temporary placeholders, always replaced by an actual grade. I (Incomplete) converts to a real grade, or to E if a deadline is missed. W (Withdrew) is a transcript notation with no grade-point value.
Source: ORC Temporary Transcript Designations chapter; ORC Non-Recording Option chapter — verified Aug 2026
What is a citation on a Dartmouth transcript?
A citation is an asterisk an instructor adds alongside an already-assigned A-E grade, recognizing a student's unusual talents, dependability, initiative, resourcefulness, or other qualities not fully reflected by the letter grade itself. It isn't a grade and carries no point value of its own.
Source: ORC Scholarship Ratings chapter (citation notation) — verified Aug 2026
Does Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering use the same grading scale?
Thayer's undergraduate (BE/AB) programs use the identical Dartmouth scale. Thayer's graduate programs (MEng, MEM, MS, PhD) use a separate qualitative scheme (HP/P/LP/CR/NC) with no grade points, not covered by this calculator.
Source: Thayer School of Engineering academic-policies page (engineering.dartmouth.edu) — verified Aug 2026
