First-Semester Grades Won't Count Toward GPA for some Students at University of Michigan

First-semester grades won't count toward GPA for some students at University of Michigan

Under a new pilot program at the University of Michigan, first-semester grades for some students will not appear on external transcripts or factor into GPA calculations.

University of Michigan to nix letter grades for many first-semester students

The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and Arts (LSA) will get rid of final letter grades for first-semester students starting in fall 2027. The college unveiled the change on its website, saying it will designate all first-year LSA students with pass or no credit on their first-semester transcripts. Those students will still receive…

Prestigious College To Hide Freshmen’s First-Semester Grades

The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will eliminate letter grades from first-semester transcripts for incoming freshmen under a new pilot program to help new freshmen acclimate to college.Instead of traditional letter grades, students will receive a “Pass” (P) or “No Credit” (NC) during their first semester. The university says the change is intended to reduce stress tied to early grades and improve student mental health.“Beginning in fall 2027, the College will designate all LSA first-year students’ first-semester grades as pass (P) or no credit (NC) on their transcripts,” the website explains. “While LSA students will still receive grades and instructor feedback in every course as they always have, final grades will not be recorded on their external transcripts and will not be reflected in their GPAs. LSA students’ official transcripts will state that all grades in the first semester are automatically designated as P/NC.”The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts had nearly 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled last year, making it the largest of the university’s schools and colleges.One goal, according to the program, is to encourage students to try new things and take classes across a wide variety of subjects without worrying that their grades will hold them back if they find those subjects a struggle. Another is to ensure that students can build confidence in their academic abilities as they first acclimate to campus culture and the demands of college-level coursework.“Helping all students establish early momentum has been recognized as the most important element in U-M’s campus-wide Student Success Initiative. We believe that covering grades will help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals,” the website reads.The only students eligible for this pilot program will be incoming freshmen who start at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in the 2027 fall semester, and the “grade covering” will apply only to their first semester grades.Although they will not appear on individual transcripts, some people will still have access to the students’ actual letter grades and official GPA. The financial aid office will be able to access official grades to determine whether students are meeting required standards for scholarships and grants, and the athletic department will also be able to access grades to determine athletic eligibility.

This University Of Michigan College Will Replace Letter Grades For Freshmen

Starting in fall 2027, the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, & the Arts will assign pass/no credit grades to new students for the first semester.

UMich College Shifts to P/NC Grading for First-Year Students

Starting in fall 2027, the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will grade all first-year students as pass/no credit for their first semester. Students will still receive grades and instructor feedback on their coursework, but the grades will not count toward their GPAs or appear on their external transcripts, which will state that all LSA first-semester grades are automatically designated P/NC.