Grading System
The University uses a letter grading system with quality point equivalents.
| Letter Grade | Numerical Equivalent | Grade Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | Excellent. Honors-level work, outstanding. |
| A- | 3.67 | Still excellent. |
| B+ | 3.33 | Very Good. High level of performance. |
| B | 3.00 | Good. Solid and above-average level of performance. |
| B- | 2.67 | Good. Above average. |
| C+ | 2.33 | Average level of performance. |
| C | 2.00 | Satisfactory. Acceptable level of performance. |
| C- | 1.67 | Minimally Acceptable. |
| D | 1.00 | Passing but unsatisfactory. Below the average level expected. The lowest passing grade. |
| F | 0.00 | Failure. Inferior performance. |
| PF/P | This symbol indicates satisfactory work in a course for which the student gains credit but no grade points. Courses receiving a grade of P will not count towards fulfilling the core, major, or minor. |
| PF/F | This symbol indicates failure in a course for which the only alternative grade would have been a pass. It is the equivalent of an F grade but is not included in grade point computation. |
| AF | Failure for excessive absence in a course. (PCS only) |
| INC | Temporary grade given when course requirements, other than just the final exam, have not been met. |
| ABS | Temporary grade granted by the instructor for absence from the final examination, due to extenuating circumstances, such as illness or death in the family. |
| W | This symbol indicates that a student has a special justification for withdrawing from a course prior to the last day for dropping courses without academic penalty. It may be granted only by authorization of the dean or class dean. |
| WF | Failure for dropping a course without the permission of the dean or class dean. It is the equivalent of an F. |
Helpful Definitions for Reading Transcripts on My.Fordham
Attempted Hours: The number of credits assigned to each course for which the student registered.
Earned Hours: The actual number of credits earned in each course; cumulatively reflects the number of credits successfully completed to date, meaning all classes passed at Fordham plus any IB/AP/transfer credits awarded. Credit for courses taken pass/fail, while not counted toward quality hours, are counted in earned hours.
GPA Hours: The number of credits assigned for each course that was attempted for a regular grade. "Regular" grades are standard letter grades with a numerical value assigned (A-F). WF, or withdrawal failure, is the numerical equivalent of an F and is counted toward quality hours.
Quality Points: The numerical value of the earned grade in each course (not shown on My.Fordham, but see above) multiplied by the number of credits assigned for each course that was attempted for a regular grade (quality hours).
Grade Point Average: a weighted average used to indicate to the student and to the faculty the academic progress of each student. Since each course is added to the accumulated average of all courses pursued, it is a cumulative index and is computed by dividing the quality points by the quality hours. This index is computed to three digits beyond the decimal point. Courses taken pass/fail are not counted towards quality hours, and are not included in the grade point average.
Pass/Fail
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are allowed to register for one elective course per academic year on a Pass/Fail basis. Credit will be granted for a passing grade, and no credit awarded for a failing grade. Since there is no numerical equivalent, the grade is not computed in the student's GPA index.
No courses used to fulfill a core, major, or minor program requirement may be taken on a pass/fail basis. Once chosen, the P/F option cannot be rejected in anticipation of a high letter grade; conversely, the likelihood of a low letter grade is not grounds for a belated request for a P/F. In order to take a course on a P/F basis, the approval of the appropriate class dean or associate dean is required.
Students are permitted to take one course per year on a pass/fail basis in their sophomore, junior, and senior years. (In the Gabelli School of Business, students are only permitted to exercise their pass/fail option for liberal arts electives. Pass/fail courses may not be used for the fulfillment of courses going toward majors, minors, or concentrations.)
Withdrawal from a Course
With the permission of the appropriate dean, a student may withdraw from a course or courses until the deadline specified in the academic calendar. If permission is obtained, the student will be awarded the grade of W, a grade which carries no academic penalty. A WF, a grade which is the equivalent of an earned F in the cumulative quality point index, may be given when the student ceases to attend a course without formal approval from the dean's office. If a student withdraws from a course after the deadline specified in the academic calendar, they will receive a WF. If a student is found in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy and receives an F in a course, and subsequently elects to withdraw from the course prior to the withdrawal deadline, the student shall receive the grade of WF. Students who withdraw from a course are responsible for discussing with the appropriate dean how the lost credits will be made up. In addition, they are advised to refer to the information on tuition refunds in the Academic Programs, Policies, and Procedures section of this bulletin for information about financial penalties.
Quality Point Index
The quality point index, or grade point average, is a weighted average used to indicate to the student and to the faculty the academic progress of each student. Since each course is added to the accumulated average of all courses pursued, it is a cumulative index and is computed in the following manner:
- Multiply the numerical value of the letter grade in each course taken by the number of credits assigned to the course (exclude all classes taken on a pass/fail basis);
- Add these products and divide by the total number of credits earned in these courses (exclude all classes taken on a pass/fail basis). This is your quality point index or grade point average.
This index is computed to three digits beyond the decimal point.
Notification of Grades
Grades are posted on My.Fordham at the end of each term. Students are expected to check My.Fordham for their final grades. Grade reports will not be mailed to students.