Harvard College Report Flags Grade Inflation as Grading System ‘Failing’

CAMBRIDGE, MA - October 27, 2025 A report from Harvard College’s Office of Undergraduate Education concludes that the institution’s grading system is no longer fulfilling its core functions, citing both grade inflation and grade compression.

The 25-page study shows that more than 60 % of undergraduate grades are “A”s - a sharp rise from about 25 % two decades ago. Meanwhile, the median GPA for the Class of 2025 stood at 3.83, up from 3.64 for the Class of 2015.

Despite rising grades, students’ self-reported weekly workload per course remains roughly the same: about 6.46 hours in Spring 2025 versus 5.85 hours in 2015, signaling that the increase in grades isn’t simply due to less work.

Faculty surveyed in the report expressed serious concern that the grades awarded no longer reliably reflect the quality of student work. In response, the College is exploring reforms, including introducing an A+ grade, and adding the median grade of each course to transcripts for greater transparency.

The report warns that unless interventions are made, the institution’s “academic mission” is at risk of being undermined by a system that fails to differentiate student performance.

*Sources: *https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/10/27/grading-workload-report/

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/10/25/grade-inflation-harvard-university-student-standards/