Harvard caps undergraduate A grades at 20%

Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences has approved a policy that caps A grades in undergraduate letter-graded courses at 20% per class , with four additional A grades allowed. The faculty vote on the measure was 458 to 201 on May 20, 2026 .

Harvard caps undergraduate A grades at 20% — what the policy says

The rule applies only to undergraduate courses graded with letters. Professors must limit the number of A grades to 20% of the class roll , plus up to four extra A's regardless of class size.

For example, in a 100-student class the maximum number of A grades is 24 . The policy targets undergraduate courses; graduate and professional courses are not covered by this rule.

Harvard caps undergraduate A grades at 20% — implementation and timeline

The measure will take effect in Fall 2027 . The Faculty of Arts and Sciences set a formal review cycle: the policy will be reviewed every three years after implementation.

University documents and faculty statements say the move responds to long-standing grade inflation. At present, more than 60% of grades awarded across Harvard are A's, a statistic cited by the faculty when approving the cap.

Vote and stated purpose

Faculty members approved the cap by a clear margin, 458 to 201 , signalling institutional support for a limit on A grades. The faculty framed the change as a way to curb grade inflation and restore clearer distinctions between grades.

What this means for students and instructors

If you are enrolled in a letter-graded undergraduate class, expect that A grades will be limited by the new formula starting Fall 2027. Instructors will need to follow the 20% cap plus the four-A exception when finalising grades.

Administrative details such as enforcement procedures, effects on GPA calculations, or appeals processes were not specified in the faculty statement. The policy document identifies the cap, its scope, and the review schedule, but implementation guidelines will follow before the Fall 2027 rollout.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences described the cap as a change to undergraduate grading practice; further implementation details are to be developed ahead of the first semester under the new rule.