How grading works at USC
USC uses a letter-grade system on a 0.00–4.00 scale. Plus and minus grades are used for most letters, with the exception of A plus, F plus, and F minus — USC does not award an A+.
Two marks that don't appear in the printed grade table still carry GPA weight: an Unofficial Withdrawal (UW) and an Expired Incomplete (IX) are each computed in the GPA as zero grade points, equivalent to an F.
Certain professional schools have approved differences in grading practices from the university-wide scale described here — check with your school if you're enrolled in a professional program.
Source: Grades — Definitions of Grades and Marks; Grade and Mark Numeric Equivalents table — verified Aug 2026
What counts toward your GPA at USC
Marks of CR, NC, P, NP, W, IP, MG, and IN do not affect your GPA. Everything else on your transcript — including two marks that aren't in the letter-grade table — is computed at the values below.
- UW (Unofficial Withdrawal) — assigned if you stop attending before the drop deadline without officially withdrawing. Computed in the GPA as zero grade points (equivalent to F).
- IX (Expired Incomplete) — an Incomplete (IN) not finished within one calendar year automatically becomes an IX, computed in the GPA as zero grade points (equivalent to F).
- MG (Missing Grade) — an administrative hold with no GPA effect on its own; if not resolved within one year it converts to a UW and is then calculated into your GPA as zero grade points.
Grade point values differ by level for some marks: C is the minimum passing grade for graduate credit, while C- is a failing grade for graduate credit; D- is the minimum passing grade for undergraduate credit.
Source: Grades — Definitions of Grades and Marks (UW, IX, MG); Grade and Mark Numeric Equivalents; no-effect sentence — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I save my semesters and track my CGPA at USC?
How do I convert SGPA to CGPA at USC?
Can I add past semester GPAs without entering every course?
Is my CGPA tracker data sent to your servers?
Is this University of Southern California (USC) GPA calculator free?
Does USC award an A+?
No. USC's own grading policy states: "plus and minus grades are used, with the exception of A plus, F plus, and F minus." The highest grade is a plain A at 4.00 grade points.
Source: Grades — Definitions of Grades and Marks — verified Aug 2026
What happens to my grade if I don't finish an Incomplete (IN) on time?
Marks of IN must be completed within one calendar year of the date the IN was assigned. If you don't finish in time, the IN automatically becomes an IX (Expired Incomplete), which is calculated in your GPA as a grade of F (zero grade points) — the same treatment as marks of IN left unresolved after the 12th week for a course exceeding one semester.
Source: Grades — IN (Incomplete) and IX (Expired Incomplete) definitions — verified Aug 2026
What is an Unofficial Withdrawal (UW) and how does it affect my GPA?
A UW is assigned if you stop attending a course before the drop deadline (end of week 12, or the equivalent for a shorter course) without officially withdrawing. Your name still appears as officially enrolled. USC's policy states the UW "will be computed in the GPA as zero grade points (equivalent to a grade of F)" and flags it as a failure to officially drop the course through the proper administrative process.
Source: Grades — UW (Unofficial Withdrawal) definition — verified Aug 2026
What is the lowest passing grade at USC?
It depends on your level. For undergraduate credit, D- (0.70 grade points) is "work of minimum passing quality." For graduate credit, the bar is higher: C is the minimum passing grade, and C- is explicitly a "Failing grade for graduate credit."
Source: Grades — Definitions of Grades and Marks (C, C Minus, D Minus) — verified Aug 2026
Can repeating a course change my GPA at USC?
Yes, with rules that depend on your standing. First-time freshmen may repeat up to three courses from their first two semesters in which they received D+ or below (including UW and IX); only the later grade, even if lower, counts in the GPA, though both attempts show on the transcript. Other undergraduates repeating a course after a grade of D+ or below have both grades calculated into the GPA, though unit credit is only earned once.
Source: Grades — Repeated Coursework (Freshmen; Other Repeated Coursework) — verified Aug 2026
