Full Breakdown
Harvard Caps A Grades to Tackle Grade Inflation
5/21/2026, 2:04:27 AM
New A-Grade Cap Effective Fall 2027
Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted to limit A grades in letter-graded courses to no more than 20 % of a class plus four additional students, starting fall 2027. The cap applies only to the A grade; A-minus and lower grades remain uncapped. A proposal to let courses opt out via a satisfactory/unsatisfactory system was rejected.
Background and Data
Over 60 % of recent Harvard undergraduate grades were A’s, a level faculty say no longer signals exceptional work. Nationally, average GPAs at four-year public and nonprofit colleges rose more than 16 % between 1990 and 2020 (U.S. Department of Education). Princeton’s 2004 experiment capped A grades at 35 % but was abandoned a decade later after criticism that it hurt job-seekers. Harvard’s 20 % plus four-student limit is a stricter cap than Princeton’s former policy.
Key Actors
The policy was drafted by a faculty subcommittee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard’s largest school with 40 departments. Dean of undergraduate education Amanda Claybaugh called grade inflation a “complex and thorny issue.” Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker, a Harvard psychology professor, has long warned that inflation “forced a race to the bottom.” Northeastern University political-science professor Max Abrahms praised the vote as a “huge win for higher education.”
Official Statements & Institutional Response
The subcommittee said the cap will ensure Harvard grades accurately reflect a student’s achievement, giving employers and graduate schools a reliable signal. Dean Claybaugh emphasized the need for a solution, noting that grade inflation has long been a problem without a clear fix. The Faculty also adopted average percentile rank, rather than GPA, for honors and awards, and will review the new policies after three years.
Criticism and Counterpoints
Critics argue that capping A grades may disadvantage students competing for jobs and graduate programs. Princeton’s abandonment of its own cap after such concerns is cited as a cautionary example.
Implications for Students and Employers
By tightening the A-grade distribution, Harvard aims to restore a clear signal of academic excellence, potentially influencing employer recruitment, graduate-school admissions, and the broader perception of undergraduate achievement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Harvard faculty voted to make their grades mean what they say they mean,” — Faculty subcommittee members
- “a Harvard A grade will now tell students, as well as employers and graduate schools, something real about what a student has achieved.” — Faculty subcommittee members
- “Grade inflation forced a race to the bottom,” — Steven Pinker, Harvard psychology professor
- “When everyone gets an A there is no signal,” — Max Abrahms, Northeastern University political-science professor
- “complex and thorny issue” — Amanda Claybaugh, dean of undergraduate education
What’s Next
The cap will be enforced starting fall 2027, with a formal review scheduled for three years after implementation to assess its impact and consider adjustments.
