What is a grade method?
The grade method for a course refers to the level of assessment you will receive for your work in a course and how it will impact your GPA. Grade methods differ from course to course and can be different based on the degree, certificate or diploma requirements.
Grade method options
- Letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F): These grades count toward your GPA and toward your completion rate for attempted and earned credits
- Pass/Fail (P/F): A Pass (P) grade is assigned when a student using this grade method completes coursework equivalent to a letter grade of A, B, or C. P grades do not impact your GPA. An F is assigned when a student completes the course with the equivalent to a letter grade of D or F. F grades do impact your GPA. Both are counted toward your completion rate for attempted and earned credits.
- Pass/No Credit (P/NC): P grades do not impact your GPA. NC grades do not impact your GPA. Both are counted toward your completion rate for attempted and earned credits.
- Audit (AU): Students using this grade method are not graded on performance and do not earn credit. AU grades do not impact your GPA and are not counted toward your completion rate.
What you need to know about grade method changes
- Students can select grade methods during registration.
- Meet with your academic advisor before you make changes to your grade method.
- The option to change the grade method is not available for every course. If that’s the case, it will be noted in the description section of the course page in the online course schedule.
- All of the grade method options listed above may not be available for every course.
- Make sure to understand what grades are required for your program. For example, if your program requires that you earn a letter grade of C or higher in certain courses, you should not change the grade method to Pass/Fail.
- Students who are receiving veterans’ benefits should not request the P/NC grade method.
- P grades may or may not transfer to other institutions.
- AU grades are not likely to transfer to other institutions.
- Audited course are subject to normal tuition rates, but are not financial aid-eligible.
How do I change my grade method for a course?
You can change your grade method at the time of registration, or after you have registered but before the published deadline.
- Log into eServices
- Choose View/Modify Class Schedule
- Click the pencil symbol
- Look for the Grade Method dropdown menu. Prior to the deadline, all available grade method options for the course will appear
- Select an alternative grading method
- Enter in your StarID password to confirm, then click the button to submit
Grade method change deadline
The deadline to change the grade method will be published in the Academic Calendar.
If you miss this deadline, you may request an exception by submitting:
What is the difference between P/Fail and P/No Credit?
Pass/No credit is the grade method normally used for developmental courses, but is also sometimes offered as a special grade method for some courses within a particular semester. With the Pass/No Credit grade method, neither grade will impact your GPA.
Pass/Fail is a grade method that is generally offered every semester, but not for every course. With the Pass/Fail grade method, P grades do not impact your GPA while F grades do. Some courses are only offered using this grade method, while other courses cannot be taken using this grade method.