Grade Table
Grades are officially recorded by letters, evaluated as follows:
| Letter Grade | Numerical Equivalent | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.000 | Outstanding achievement |
| A– | 3.667 | |
| B+ | 3.333 | |
| B | 3.000 | Good achievement |
| B– | 2.667 | |
| C+ | 2.333 | |
| C | 2.000 | Satisfactory achievement |
| C– | 1.667 | |
| D+ | 1.333 | Undergraduate only |
| D | 1.000 | Undergraduate only/Poor achievement |
| D– | 0.667 | Undergraduate only |
| F | 0.000 | Failure |
| I | Incomplete | |
| IP | In progress | |
| CR | Credit (School of Law only) | |
| HH | High Honor (School of Law only) | |
| H | Honor (School of Law only) | |
| P | Pass (School of Law only) | |
| MP | Marginal Pass (School of Law only) | |
| NE | Not enrolled | |
| NG | Grade not reported by faculty | |
| S | Satisfactory (counts toward total degree requirements) | |
| U | Unsatisfactory | |
| X | Incomplete | |
| L | Audit (no credit given) | |
| T | Transfer | |
| W | Course withdrawal |
An I, IP, or X grade shows that the student has not completed the course requirements.
The IP grade is intended for courses that extend over several terms. The time restrictions on the incomplete grade do not apply to the IP grade. While the IP grade is left unchanged, it is not included in computing the grade-point average. If the IP grade is never changed, the course does not count toward graduation requirements.
The NG grade is intended for classes with temporary unreported grades. The Office of the Registrar may enter an NG grade code after the grading deadline in accordance with the academic calendar if no grade is entered on the student’s record during the instructor grading period. The instructor of record will subsequently resolve the grade to update the student record. See also Grade Change Policy.
Course Comments
The following notations may also appear on the student's transcript:
| E | Course excluded from GPA |
| HON | Honors-level course |
| I | Course included in GPA |
GPA
Numerical equivalents for scholastic averages are weighted according to the number of hours the course carries. For example, suppose a student receives a grade of B in a course carrying 4 semester hours and a grade of A in a course carrying 1 semester hour. The weightings for these example courses are as follows:
| Grade | Numerical Equivalent | Semester Hours | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 3.000 | 4 | 12 |
| A | 4.000 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals: | 5 | 16 |
The GPA for both courses would then be the total weight (16) divided by the total semester hours (5), or 3.200. Grades of I, IP, S, U, and X are not included in the calculation of the GPA. See Grade Table for a complete list of grades and numerical equivalents.
Substituting Courses
In some cases, it may not be possible to retake a course if a student wishes to do so. In unusual circumstances, students may petition to substitute one course for another they have already taken, as long as the subject matter of both courses is substantially alike. With the approval of the student’s academic advisor and the agreement of the department that offered the first course taken, a grade received in the new course will be labeled “Substitute” on the transcript and will be treated in the grade-point-average calculation as a “retake” grade, as described at Retaking Courses in this catalog. The original grade will remain on the student’s Northeastern University transcript. Students should consult with their academic advisor before enrolling in any proposed substitute course. Students are required to pay normal tuition charges for all substitute coursework.