Notre Dame GPA Scale: Grade Point Values & Calculation Guide

The University of Notre Dame uses a standard 4.000-scale grading system where letter grades carry specific quality point values ranging from 4.000 for an A down to 0.000 for an F. Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by multiplying the quality point value of each letter grade by the course credit hours, adding those quality points together, and dividing the total by the number of graded credit hours attempted.

Administrative and Incomplete Grades: Handling Non-Standard Transcript Entries

Calculating a Grade Point Average becomes complex when non-standard administrative marks appear on an academic transcript. Notre Dame assigns specific rules and point calculations for incomplete work, unreported grades, and course withdrawals.

For undergraduate students, an X grade indicates incomplete coursework resulting from extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. An X grade requires formal approval from the student’s academic dean or dean’s designee. While active, the X grade carries 0.000 quality points. If the outstanding work is not resolved and submitted to the instructor—and subsequently converted to a standard letter grade—the Registrar converts the X grade to a grade of F thirty days into the next active semester.

In graduate, graduate business, and law programs, incomplete work is designated by an I grade. Unlike an undergraduate X grade, an I grade is immediately calculated into the graduate student’s GPA as equivalent to an F, carrying 0.000 quality points until resolved.

When a grade is completely missing from a student’s record, two specific administrative codes apply:

• F* Grade: Assigned by the Office of the Registrar when an instructor fails to report a grade for an individual active student. This often occurs when a student fails to drop a class properly, registers incorrectly, or attends the wrong section. An F* carries 0.000 quality points and reverts to an F if not changed within 30 days after the start of the next semester.
• NR Grade: Assigned when an instructor fails to submit final grades for an entire class due to extenuating circumstances. An NR grade is excluded from immediate GPA computation. However, if the NR status is not resolved by the beginning of final examination week in the next semester of enrollment, it automatically converts to an F (0.000 quality points).

Courses marked with a W represent a course discontinuance approved by the student’s academic dean after the official drop/add deadline, or a complete withdrawal from the University. Grades of W carry no quality point value and are completely excluded from both GPA hours attempted and GPA hours earned.

Program-Specific Passing Limits, Pass/Fail Elections, and Transfer Policies

Grade point calculations at Notre Dame depend heavily on academic standing, student classification, and degree level. A letter grade that awards credit in one school may be treated as a failing mark in another.

Academic programs establish different lowest passing thresholds across the University:

• Undergraduate Programs: The lowest passing grade is a D (1.000 quality point). Any grade below a D is assigned 0.000 quality points.
• Graduate Business Programs: The lowest passing grade is a C- (1.667 quality points). Any performance below C- receives 0.000 quality points.
• Graduate School: The lowest passing grade is a C (2.000 quality points). Grades below C carry 0.000 quality points.

Any quality point value awarded below the lowest passing threshold established by the student’s respective school is calculated into the GPA as 0.000. Note that law students follow separate regulations defined in the Hoynes Codes.

Undergraduate students who reach junior or senior status can take advantage of the Pass/Fail option. During the first six class days of a semester, eligible students may file an irrevocable request with their dean to take one elective course outside their major department on a pass/fail basis. The instructor assigns standard letter grades without knowing the student chose pass/fail. The Registrar converts final letter grades of A through D into a P (Pass). A grade of P awards earned credit hours toward graduation but is entirely excluded from the hours attempted and GPA calculation. However, if the instructor assigns a final grade of F, it does not convert to a P; the F is entered on the record and calculated into the GPA as 0.000 quality points. Taking a course Pass/Fail also reduces the number of graded credit hours for the semester, which can impact Dean’s List eligibility since a minimum of 12 graded credit hours is required.

Zero-credit and one-credit experiential courses—such as laboratory sections, research seminars, departmental colloquia, directed studies, workshops, and field education—are graded using S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) marks. An S grade indicates the student met course requirements, while a U grade indicates failure to meet requirements. Neither S nor U grades are factored into GPA calculations.

Regarding transfer credits, Notre Dame strictly excludes external grades from GPA calculations. Only coursework completed directly through Notre Dame, University-sponsored study away programs where Notre Dame enrollment is maintained, and co-exchange courses taken at Saint Mary’s College are included in the cumulative Grade Point Average.

Is a 3.7 an A or B at Notre Dame?

At the University of Notre Dame, a 3.7 cumulative GPA (or a 3.667 single-course quality point value) is an A-, not a B.

The Notre Dame catalog classifies an A- grade as carrying 3.667 quality points and defines it as “Outstanding” work representing superior performance across all areas of a course. It sits above a B+ (3.333 quality points) and just below a solid A (4.000 quality points), placing it firmly within the A letter grade band.

Standard Quality Point Scale and GPA Calculation Formula

Notre Dame evaluates student performance using an official ten-tier letter grade scale for GPA computation. Each letter grade corresponds to an exact quality point value per credit hour:

• A (4.000 quality points): Truly Exceptional Work; meets or exceeds the highest expectations for the course.
• A- (3.667 quality points): Outstanding; superior work in all areas of the course.
• B+ (3.333 quality points): Very Good; superior work in most areas of the course.
• B (3.000 quality points): Good; solid work across the board.
• B- (2.667 quality points): More than Acceptable; falls short of solid work.
• C+ (2.333 quality points): Acceptable: Meets All Basic Standards; meets all basic requirements and standards.
• C (2.000 quality points): Acceptable: Meets Most Basic Standards; lowest passing grade for graduate students.
• C- (1.667 quality points): Acceptable: Meets Some Basic Standards; lowest passing grade for graduate business students.
• D (1.000 quality points): Minimally Passing Work; lowest passing grade for undergraduate students.
• F (0.000 quality points): Failing; unacceptable performance.

To calculate your semester GPA manually, multiply the credit hours of each course by the quality points earned for the letter grade, sum the total quality points, and divide by the total graded credit hours attempted.

The mathematical formula is:

Semester GPA = Total Quality Points Earned / Total Graded Hours Attempted

If you prefer to automate this step without doing manual multiplication, you can use our free GPA Calculator.

Step-by-Step Sample GPA Calculation Test Case

To demonstrate how standard grades, Pass/Fail options, and S/U classes interact in a single term, consider an undergraduate student enrolled in five courses totaling 14 credit hours:

1. Modern European History (3 credit hours) — Earned Grade: A Quality Points: 3 credits × 4.000 = 12.000 points
2. Applied Quantum Physics (4 credit hours) — Earned Grade: B+ Quality Points: 4 credits × 3.333 = 13.332 points
3. Environmental Economics (3 credit hours) — Earned Grade: A- Quality Points: 3 credits × 3.667 = 11.001 points
4. Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credit hours) — Elected Pass/Fail, Earned Grade: B (Converts to P) Quality Points: Excluded from GPA hours attempted (0.000 points, 3 completed hours)
5. Chemistry Research Lab (1 credit hour) — Earned Grade: S (Satisfactory) Quality Points: Excluded from GPA hours attempted (0.000 points, 1 completed hour)

Step 1: Calculate Total Graded Hours Attempted Exclude the 3-credit Pass/Fail course (converted to P) and the 1-credit S/U lab. Graded Hours Attempted = 3 + 4 + 3 = 10 credit hours.

Step 2: Calculate Total Quality Points Earned Total Quality Points = 12.000 + 13.332 + 11.001 = 36.333 points.

Step 3: Apply the GPA Formula Semester GPA = 36.333 quality points / 10 graded credit hours = 3.6333.

Rounded to three decimal places, the student earns a semester GPA of 3.633 while completing all 14 credit hours.