What Is a Passing Grade?
Passing grade thresholds vary by school type, program, and country. Here is a clear breakdown of what counts as passing in US high schools, colleges, and internationally, plus how a D or F affects your GPA.
The US Standard: What “Passing” Means
In the United States, there is no single national passing grade — each institution sets its own policy. That said, the most common threshold in US high schools is 60% (a D-minus), which is the lowest letter grade on the standard 13-grade scale. A score below 60% earns an F, which does not count as passing.
At the college level, the picture is more nuanced. Most US colleges consider 60% or above as “passing” in the sense that the course earns credit toward your total units. But that same 60% may not satisfy major requirements, course prerequisites, or financial aid minimum progress standards, all of which typically demand a C (73%) or higher.
High school vs college passing thresholds
| Institution Type | Minimum Passing % | Letter Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US public high school (most) | 60% | D− | Standard threshold |
| US high school (stricter) | 65–70% | D / C− | Some districts require 70% |
| US college (general credit) | 60–70% | D / C− | Counts toward credit hours |
| US college (major requirement) | 73% | C | Typical minimum for major courses |
| US graduate program | 83% | B | B or higher usually required |
| Competitive professional programs | 73–83% | C to B | Varies by program; retake policies differ |
Why the threshold varies
The passing threshold is set differently across institutions for several reasons. High schools that serve mandatory attendance populations set lower thresholds partly to avoid leaving students without a diploma for borderline performance. Colleges set higher standards for major requirements because prerequisite knowledge genuinely matters for success in subsequent courses — a student who barely passed calculus will struggle in a differential equations course. Graduate programs require B grades because graduate work assumes deep mastery, not just surface familiarity.
Individual instructors also sometimes set a higher passing bar than the institutional minimum. A chemistry professor might stipulate that a C or better is required for lab certification reasons, even if the school’s general policy allows a D to count as passing. Always check both the institutional policy and the course syllabus.
The letter grade and GPA view
On the standard 4.0 GPA scale used by most US colleges, a D− (60–62%) is worth 0.7 grade points and a D is worth 1.0. An F is 0.0. This means passing with a D still pulls your GPA significantly below a 2.0 average. A student earning mostly Cs (2.0) and one D (1.0) in a 3-credit course would see their cumulative GPA drop by about 0.1–0.3 points depending on how many total credits they have.
| Grade | % Range | GPA Value | Passes? | Counts for Major? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A− to A+ | 90–100% | 3.7–4.0 | Yes | Yes |
| B− to B+ | 80–89% | 2.7–3.3 | Yes | Yes |
| C− to C+ | 70–79% | 1.7–2.3 | Yes | Usually |
| D− to D+ | 60–69% | 0.7–1.3 | Usually | Rarely |
| F | 0–59% | 0.0 | No | No |
For context on how to calculate your current grade percentage and the letter grade it corresponds to, see the guide on how to calculate a test grade. To find what score you need on an upcoming test to push your grade to passing, use the final exam grade calculator.
Pass/fail and credit/no-credit courses
Many colleges allow students to take certain courses on a pass/fail basis (also called credit/no-credit or P/NC). In these courses your work is evaluated normally, but your transcript shows only P or F rather than a letter grade. A P does not factor into your GPA at all, which can be useful for exploring subjects outside your major without risk to your academic record. An F in a P/F course typically does count against your GPA, however, which is a common source of confusion.
Most schools limit pass/fail options. Common rules: you cannot take major requirements P/F, you can take at most one P/F course per semester, and there is a deadline (often a few weeks into the term) to switch a course to P/F. The passing threshold within a P/F course is set by the professor and is usually 60–70% — meaning you still have to do meaningful work to earn the P.
International passing grades
Grading scales differ substantially between countries, and a percentage that is excellent in one system can be average or even below passing in another. A 70% in the UK is a First Class Honours — the highest possible classification. That same 70% in the US is a C-minus, barely above the lowest passing grade for many purposes.
| Country | Minimum Passing % | Highest Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 60% (D−) | 100% (A+) | Varies by institution and program |
| United Kingdom | 40% | 70%+ = First Class | 70% is the top grade; scale is compressed |
| Canada | 50–60% | 100% (A+) | Varies by province and institution |
| Germany | 50% (grade 4) | 100% (grade 1) | Grades run 1 (best) to 6 (fail) |
| France | 10/20 | 20/20 | 20-point scale; scoring above 16 is rare |
| Australia | 50% | 85%+ = High Distinction | HD/D/C/P/F banding system |
| India | 35–40% | 90%+ = Distinction | Varies significantly by board/university |
This matters if you are applying to international programs, calculating grade equivalencies for visa applications, or assessing foreign transcripts. A student with 65% from a UK university has performed in the upper third of their class — equivalent to a strong B or B+ in the US context, not a D+ as a direct percentage comparison would suggest.
When a D is not enough to move forward
Even at schools where a D technically passes, many course sequences require a C or better before you can enroll in the next level. A D in Calculus I may count as passing on your transcript but will block you from registering for Calculus II at most institutions. Similarly, many department policies for majors require that all major courses be completed with a C or better, so a D-grade course must be retaken even though it is not an F.
Before assuming a D is “good enough,” check three things: (1) your institution’s academic standing policy; (2) the prerequisite requirement for any courses that follow; and (3) your department’s major requirement policy. You may also want to consider retaking a D-grade course even when not required, since the GPA damage of a 1.0 grade point is significant and many schools replace the old grade in GPA calculations when you retake a course.
If you’re trying to figure out where your current grade stands and what you need to improve it, the grade calculator and the weighted grade guide are the right places to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most US high schools set the passing threshold at 60% (a D-minus), though some require 65% or 70%. At the college level, 60–70% typically earns credit, but many programs require a C (73%) or higher for major courses and prerequisites. Always check your institution’s official policy.
In most US high schools, yes — 60% is a D−, the lowest passing letter grade. In college, 60% may earn general credit but often will not satisfy major requirements or prerequisites. Some programs require a C (73%) or higher to count a course toward a degree. Always verify with your specific institution.
At most US colleges, 70% (a C-minus) passes for general credit, but many departments require at least a C (73%) or even a B (83%) for courses in your major or as prerequisites. Graduate programs typically require a B minimum to count a course toward a degree.
Most US colleges require a minimum 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain in good academic standing and avoid academic probation. Scholarships, honors programs, and graduate school admissions typically require 3.0 or higher. A D grade (1.0 GPA points) does not trigger suspension alone but significantly drags down your cumulative average.
65% is a D on the standard US grading scale (D range: 63–66%). It is technically passing at most high schools but may not earn course credit toward a degree or satisfy major requirements at college. Use the grade calculator to convert any score to a letter grade instantly.
In a pass/fail course, your result is recorded as P (Pass) or F (Fail) rather than a letter grade. A P does not affect your GPA; an F typically does. Most schools limit how many credits can be taken pass/fail, and many prohibit taking major requirements on this basis. The passing threshold is set by the instructor, commonly 60–70%.
Technically yes at most US schools, as long as your cumulative GPA stays at or above the minimum (usually 2.0). However, many departments require a C or better in major courses and will not count a D toward degree requirements, meaning you may need to retake the course. Check both institutional and departmental requirements.
UK universities typically set the passing threshold at 40% for undergraduate courses (a Third Class Honours). A 50–59% earns a 2:2; 60–69% a 2:1; 70%+ a First Class. These are not equivalent to US letter grades — a UK 70% is considered excellent (like a US A), while in the US 70% is a C-minus.