Harvard Will Cap Number Of A Grades Awarded, In What University Calls "A Major Step To Fix" Grade Inflation

CBS Boston

Updated on: May 21, 2026 / 8:30 AM EDT

Harvard University faculty members voted to cap the number of A's awarded to students, a grading change aimed at making student marks more meaningful.

By a vote of 458 to 201, faculty approved a measure that caps the number of A grades at 20%, plus four additional per class, the university confirmed Wednesday. There is no limit to the number of A minuses or other grades that can be awarded. A separate measure that would have allowed courses to opt out of the cap was rejected, 364 to 292.

The new policy, which only applies to undergraduate students, goes into effect in the fall of 2027 and will be reassessed after three years.

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