Grading System Overview
Penn College uses a 4.0-basis letter grading system: A (Superior, 4), B (Above Average, 3), C (Average, 2), D (Below Average, 1), and F (Failing, 0). Some majors — and all developmental math courses — restrict this to an A, B, C, F scale for some or all required courses; under that restriction a D is not a passing grade and is recorded as an F on the transcript.
Source: Penn College, Grading System catalog page (pct.edu), accessed 2026-09-05. — verified Sep 2026
How the GPA Is Calculated
GPA is calculated by multiplying each grade's point value (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1) by the course's credit hours, summing the results, and dividing by total credits attempted. A course graded W (withdrawn) is not included in total credits attempted. When a course is repeated, it is counted only once toward total credits attempted, and the higher grade is used to calculate grade points earned; semester GPAs themselves are not recalculated after a repeat. If a student switches majors, grades for courses not required by the new major are not figured into the graduation GPA.
Source: Penn College, Understanding GPA page; major-switch detail from Academic Standing page (pct.edu), accessed 2026-09-06. — verified Sep 2026
Academic Standing
Good standing requires no disciplinary sanction, no unsatisfied financial obligation, and no active probation, suspension, or dismissal. A cumulative enrollment GPA below 2.0 places a student on academic probation. A student is academically suspended if the first-semester cumulative enrollment GPA is below 1.0 (after attempting at least six credits) — a suspension that cannot be appealed — or if the cumulative enrollment GPA is below 2.0 in any three semesters, sequential or otherwise. A developmental course may be repeated only once before academic suspension follows a second failing attempt; a non-developmental course may be repeated twice before suspension follows a third failing attempt. Under academic renewal, previously satisfied required coursework graded C or higher and less than 10 years old may carry forward.
Source: Penn College, Academic Standing page (pct.edu/academics/academic-affairs/academic-standing), accessed 2026-09-06; policies P 4.27/PR 4.27, P 4.28/PR 4.28. — verified Sep 2026
Transfer Credit and GPA
Credits transferred from another institution are marked "EXTRANS" on the transcript; grades earned at other institutions are not used to calculate a student's Penn College GPA.
Source: Penn College, Understanding GPA page (pct.edu/academics/academic-affairs/understanding-grade-point-average-gpa), accessed 2026-09-06. — verified Sep 2026