Academics
Grades
Grading is rigorous at the University of Chicago. The grade of C is often given for average work, and the grade of A is difficult to obtain. It is not uncommon for first-year grades at Chicago to be lower than high school grades. Parents and students should know that grades generally improve in the third and fourth years as students mature, gain confidence, polish academic skills, and begin courses in their majors.
- Grading
The following marks are used for College courses (the numerical weight assigned to each grade is listed in parentheses when applicable): A (4.0), A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C (2.0), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), F (0.0), I, P, Q, and W. The marks A, B, C, D, and P are passing marks and confer course credit. The mark of F indicates unsatisfactory work and does not confer credit.
The familiar grades of A through F, known as “quality grades,” carry a specific weight in calculating official grade point averages. The College does not rank students.
The mark I (Incomplete) indicates that a student has not completed the requirements of the course before the end of the quarter but has made formal arrangements with the instructor to complete the remaining work. When such arrangements have not been made and the instructor has not submitted a final grade for a student, the mark Q (Query) is entered on the student’s grade report by the Registrar. The mark W (Withdraw) means that a student decided after the third week of the quarter not to complete the course. A blank on a student’s grade report means that the faculty member has not yet submitted a grade for any student in that course. New grade reports are not issued when incompletes or blanks are replaced by grades.
- Will a copy of my son’s or daughter’s grades be mailed to my home? How do I obtain a copy of my student’s grades?
The University of Chicago does not automatically mail paper copies of students’ grades to their home addresses (see Accessing Information and How do I access FERPA-protected information?). When a signed FERPA form (PDF) is on file, parents will be mailed grade reports for each quarter following the second week of the subsequent quarter. Students may access their grades online.
