Harvard University faculty began voting on Tuesday on a proposal that could sharply limit the number of A grades awarded to undergraduate students, reopening a long-running debate over grade inflation at elite US universities.
Under the proposal, no more than 20% of students in a class, along with four additional students, would receive an A grade. The move comes after nearly 60% of grades awarded at Harvard in the academic year ending mid-2025 were A’s, more than double the share recorded in 2006. That figure fell to 53% in the fall semester after the university urged faculty to tighten grading standards, according to a Bloomberg report.
The vote is being closely watched across higher education because Harvard’s decision could influence other top universities facing similar criticism over rising grades and academic standards.
The debate has also drawn political attention. Conservatives and officials linked to US President Donald Trump have argued that grade inflation reflects a broader shift away from merit-based evaluation in higher education. The White House had earlier included grading reform in a proposed agreement offered to select universities in exchange for priority access to federal funding.
May Mailman, a former senior policy adviser in the Trump administration, said Harvard’s influence could push other universities toward similar reforms.
“My hope is that Harvard is very influential,” Mailman said. “That’s one of the whole reasons why the administration has been so focused on these elite universities. They consider themselves leaders, so I would think and hope it would be quite meaningful.”
Students and faculty divided over proposal
Supporters of the proposal argue that grade inflation has reduced the value of academic distinctions. At Harvard last year, students needed a GPA of 3.989 to qualify for summa cum laude honours, while an award traditionally given to the student with the highest GPA ended in a 54-way tie.
As per Bloomberg report, Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under former US President Barack Obama, backed the proposal.
“It’s fundamentally dishonest to give the best students in the class the same grade as someone in the bottom half of the class,” Furman said.
Students, however, have strongly opposed the move. According to a survey, as cited by Bloomberg, the student government in February, nearly 85% of undergraduate respondents opposed the proposed grading limits.
Caleb Thompson, who served as co-president of the undergraduate student body this year, said students believe the proposal would increase competition and stress.
“The student voice is very clear on this issue, which is that people really are against this,” Thompson said. “It has to be said that this sentiment from around the country that Harvard is just giving out As for free is ridiculous.”
Some students also warned that tougher grading could discourage students from choosing difficult subjects.
“My underclassmen friends are coming to me and asking specifically for classes that are easier,” senior student Summer Tan said. “I think that’s so sad because a lot of Harvard students come in and they like to be challenged.”
Several faculty members also raised concerns that the proposal could affect Harvard’s ability to attract top students.
“If we adopt a system that systematically punishes students for stretching themselves, I am very concerned we would see the top, top students just choose not to come here,” said Scott Duke Kominers, who teaches economics and business administration at Harvard.
Other universities have previously tried similar measures with mixed results. Princeton University introduced grade limits in 2004 but ended the policy a decade later after student opposition. Wellesley College also dropped its grading restrictions after 15 years.
Meanwhile, Yale University recently discussed a proposal that would target a campus-wide average GPA of 3.0.
If approved, Harvard’s new grading cap would take effect from the 2027 academic year. Faculty are also voting on separate proposals that would allow some courses to opt out of the cap and replace GPA-based awards with percentile rankings.
(With Bloomberg inputs)
