Harvard faculty take aim at grade inflation by capping 'A' grades for students

Harvard University faculty have approved a limit on the number of "A" grades that can be awarded to undergraduate students, aiming to address a growing trend of grade inflation at the prestigious U.S. university.

In votes cast over the past week, more than two-thirds of faculty members supported a measure restricting A grades to no more than one-fifth of the students in a course, plus up to four additional students.

The new rule, set to take effect in the fall of 2027, represents one of the first major steps by a top U.S. university to confront grade inflation—a phenomenon faculty say is eroding academic standards and making it harder to identify true academic excellence.

An October report by Harvard’s Dean of Undergraduate Education, Amanda Claybaugh, warned that grade inflation was "damaging the academic culture" at Harvard College. The report highlighted that students increasingly choose courses where high grades are more likely, experience greater stress over lower grades, and feel that their accomplishments are less meaningful.

The report noted that the share of A grades awarded has steadily increased over the past two decades: 24% in 2005, 40% in 2015, and 60% in 2025.

Claybaugh praised the faculty’s decision as an “important step toward ensuring that our grading system better serves its central purposes,” including “recognizing genuine distinction.” She added, “It will, I believe, strengthen the academic culture of Harvard.”

The new policy does not limit grades below A, such as A-, and Harvard does not award A+ grades. A separate proposal allowing instructors to request exemptions from the A grade cap was rejected during the same voting period.

Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters