How grading works at Rutgers-New Brunswick
Rutgers' basic grading system uses seven letter grades on a 0.0-to-4.0 scale: A, B+, B, C+, C, D, and F. Unlike many universities, Rutgers does not award an A+ and does not use minus grades (no A-, B-, C-, or D-) — B+ and C+ are the only half-step grades in the basic system. See the Grade Scale Reference above for the exact value attached to each grade.
Rutgers also defines verbal ratings alongside the numeric values: A is "Outstanding," B is "Good," C is "Satisfactory," and D is "Poor."
Because of the nature of their academic programs, several Rutgers schools — including Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and the Schools of Health Related Professions, Nursing, and Public Health — use their own individual grading schemes rather than the basic system described here.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, "Grades and Symbols," Section A — verified Aug 2026
What counts toward your Rutgers GPA
Only the seven basic letter grades (A through F) carry grade points and count toward your GPA. Several other symbols you may see on a Rutgers transcript do not carry grade points and are excluded from the GPA calculation entirely:
- PASS / NO CREDIT — assigned when you register for a course on a pass/no-credit basis. PASS corresponds to work that would otherwise earn an A, B+, B, C+, or C; NO CREDIT corresponds to work that would otherwise earn a D or F. Neither carries a grade-point value of its own.
- T and R prefixes — a T before a grade means term work was incomplete; an R before a grade means a re-examination was authorized. Once the incomplete work or re-examination is resolved, the final regular letter grade is what counts — the T/R designation itself is never averaged in.
- W, WP, and WF — withdrawal symbols (withdrawn without evaluation, withdrawn passing, and withdrawn failing) carry no grade-point value. None of the three may be assigned if the withdrawal is dated within the last two full weeks of instruction in a term, and a W for a single dropped course after eight weeks of a regular term requires authorization.
- XF — a Disciplinary F that may be assigned as a sanction for a serious academic integrity violation.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Sections A, D, and E — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grading scheme does Rutgers University - New Brunswick use?
Where does this Rutgers University - New Brunswick grade scale come from?
Does Rutgers give A+ grades?
No. Rutgers' basic grading system tops out at a plain A, worth 4.0 — there is no A+ grade and no grade above 4.0. Rutgers also does not use minus grades; the only half-step grades in the basic system are B+ (3.5) and C+ (2.5).
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section A — verified Aug 2026
What's the difference between W, WP, and WF at Rutgers?
W (withdrawn without evaluation) is used when you withdraw from the college or drop an individual course. WP (withdrawn passing) and WF (withdrawn failing) reflect your standing in the course at the time of withdrawal. None of the three carries a grade-point value, so none affects your GPA. None can be assigned if the withdrawal falls within the last two full weeks of instruction in a term, and a W for dropping a single course after eight weeks of a regular term needs authorization from the school's designated authority.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section E — verified Aug 2026
Does Pass/No Credit affect your GPA at Rutgers?
No. A grade of PASS or NO CREDIT carries no grade-point value and is not included in your GPA calculation, even though PASS corresponds to work that would otherwise earn an A, B+, B, C+, or C, and NO CREDIT corresponds to work that would otherwise earn a D or F.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section A — verified Aug 2026
What does XF mean on a Rutgers transcript?
XF stands for "Disciplinary F." It may be assigned to a student found responsible for a serious violation of academic integrity, as part of the sanction for that violation.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section A — verified Aug 2026
What do T and R mean on a Rutgers grade report?
A T prefix ("term work incomplete") is used at the instructor's discretion when you haven't completed a portion of the required coursework. An R prefix ("re-examination") is used at the instructor's discretion when your exam result seems markedly inconsistent with your previous record. In both cases, if the incomplete work isn't finished or the re-examination isn't taken within the period the faculty sets, the regular grade originally assigned becomes final.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section D — verified Aug 2026
Do all Rutgers schools use the same grading scale?
Most do — the basic A/B+/B/C+/C/D/F scale is Rutgers' university-wide policy. But a handful of schools use their own grading schemes because of the nature of their programs: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Related Professions, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. If you're in one of those schools, check your own school's policies rather than the basic scale described here.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section B — verified Aug 2026
Is the Rutgers grading scale the same at New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden?
Yes, for the basic scale. Rutgers' University Policy 10.2.2 states that the basic grading system applies to "Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey" as a whole, not to one campus. It is not gated by campus in the policy text itself.
Source: University Policy 10.2.2, Section A — verified Aug 2026
