How Howard Grades Work
Howard assigns final grades on a percentage-to-letter scale (A through F) that determines each student's semester and cumulative GPA, used except where a specific school or college bulletin states otherwise. A is excellent, B is good, C is fair, D is poor, and F is failing.
Several notations carry no grade-point value and are not calculated into the GPA: W (official withdrawal), UW (unofficial withdrawal), I (incomplete, until replaced by an alternate letter grade), AD (audit), P (pass, under the Pass/Fail option), and S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory).
Source: Howard University, "Academic Standing" (Office of the Registrar) — Grades section. — verified Aug 2026
GPA Computation & Related Rules
A semester GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's credit hours by its grade's point value, summing the results, and dividing by the credit hours attempted that semester; the cumulative GPA applies the same method to all credit hours attempted at Howard University to date.
- Pass/Fail option: sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, enrolled in at least 12 semester hours, may take one elective course per semester on a pass/fail basis (not permitted for general-education or major/minor requirements); neither the passing nor failing designation is computed into the GPA.
- Course repeats: an undergraduate student may repeat a course once after receiving a "D" or "F"; the lower grade is excluded from the GPA computation, though it remains on the academic record. Additional repeats beyond the first are counted in the GPA unless the course is a major/minor requirement needing a minimum "C."
- Auditing: audited courses carry no credit and are not graded for GPA purposes, though they appear on the official academic record.
Source: Howard University, "Academic Standing" — GPA, Pass/Fail Regulation, Course Repeats, Auditors sections. — verified Aug 2026
Academic Probation & Suspension
Academic status categories are good standing, probation, and suspension. An undergraduate student incurs academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of any semester (below 2.5 for students at junior standing or in the professional phase of the School of Education, College of Pharmacy, or College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences).
- Students on probation must enroll in no more than 13 credit hours full-time (7 part-time) and maintain monthly contact with their academic advisor.
- Probation is removed once the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher, and must be cleared within one semester (excluding summer sessions) or the student is suspended.
- Readmission after suspension requires a petition to the school or college of last enrollment; readmission for a student who left with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 additionally requires school/college approval.
Source: Howard Univ. Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, "Readmission Policy on Academic Probation & Suspension." — verified Aug 2026
Minimum GPA for Graduation
To receive a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; individual schools and colleges may set additional grade requirements for their own degree programs.
Source: Howard Univ. Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, "GPA Requirement for Graduation." — verified Aug 2026
Graduation Honors
Undergraduates are graduated with honors based on cumulative GPA: 3.20 through 3.49 earns cum laude, 3.50 through 3.79 earns magna cum laude, and 3.80 or higher earns summa cum laude. Noncredit courses are excluded from honors eligibility, and students who repeated courses to raise their GPA, did not complete the last half of their degree in residence at Howard, or did not carry at least 12 credits most semesters are generally not eligible.
Academically strong students are also named to the Dean's Honor Roll, published annually, with the qualifying GPA set individually by each school or college. Special Honors Programs offering intensified study are available in the School of Business, School of Communications, and College of Arts and Sciences.
Source: Howard Univ. Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, "Honors"; Special Honors Programs corroborated on Academic Standing page. — verified Aug 2026
Transfer Credit Policy
Howard accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities for comparable coursework in which the student earned a grade of "C" or higher. Only credit hours transfer, not grades — transferred coursework is not included in a student's Howard GPA.
- A maximum of 60 semester credit hours may be transferred in; the last 30 credit hours of an undergraduate degree must be completed at Howard University.
Source: Howard Univ. Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, "Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy." — verified Aug 2026