Letter Grade Reference
A− GPA — the grade that
costs more than it looks.
An A− earns 3.7 quality points — not 4.0. On paper it's still an A, but each A− instead of A quietly pulls your cumulative GPA down. Use the calculator below to see exactly how A− grades shift your average and what it means for honours and graduate school.
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What it means
A− vs A — the 0.3
point gap that matters
A− is the most underestimated grade in the US system. Students often treat it as essentially equivalent to A — it's still the A range, after all. But in GPA arithmetic, A− earns 3.7 points while A earns 4.0. That 0.3-point gap per course compounds across a semester and a degree.
A student who earns A− in every course over 120 credits graduates with a 3.70 GPA. A student who earns A earns exactly 4.00. The difference between summa cum laude and magna cum laude at many institutions is precisely this gap — it lives entirely in whether grades are A or A−.
The implications are practical: a student targeting summa cum laude (say, 3.9 minimum) cannot afford consistent A− grades. A student aiming for magna (3.7+) sits right at the edge with all A−. Use the calculator to see your exact position.
Honours thresholds
Where A− lands on
academic honours
Dean's List. Most institutions require 3.5–3.75 semester GPA for Dean's List. An all-A− semester (3.70) qualifies at the 3.5 threshold but misses the 3.75 threshold by 0.05 points. One A mixed in with A− grades is enough to cross that line.
Cum laude (3.5+). An A− average comfortably reaches cum laude at the 3.5 threshold. Even with occasional B+ grades mixed in, a predominantly A− record typically qualifies.
Magna cum laude (3.7+). A consistent A− average (3.7 GPA) sits exactly at the magna threshold. A single B+ in 60 credits drops it to approximately 3.69 — just below. This is the critical honours boundary for A− students.
Summa cum laude (3.9+). Not reachable with consistent A− grades. Summa requires a substantial proportion of A and A+ grades to pull the cumulative average above 3.9.
Common questions
A− GPA — FAQ
What is an A− in GPA?
3.7 quality points per credit on the 4.0 scale; 3.67 on the 4.33 scale. Corresponds to approximately 90–92% performance — the lowest tier of the A range.
Is A− still considered an A?
Qualitatively yes, numerically no. A− is in the A range but earns 3.7 pts vs A's 4.0. The 0.3-point gap compounds significantly over a full degree program.
Does A− qualify for Dean's List?
Usually yes — a 3.70 semester GPA from all A− grades exceeds the common 3.5 threshold. Schools requiring 3.75 or 3.8 may not qualify a pure A− semester.
Can I get summa cum laude with A− grades?
No. Summa requires 3.9–4.0 GPA. Consistent A− grades produce a 3.70 cumulative GPA — qualifies for magna (3.7+) but not summa.
What percentage is an A−?
Typically 90–92% at most US institutions. Some schools use 90–93% for the full A− range.
Is A− good for graduate school?
Yes — an A− average (3.7 GPA) is competitive for most graduate programs, including many professional schools that seek 3.7+ for admission.
How does A− affect cumulative GPA?
Each 3-credit A− adds 11.1 QP. Adding a 3-credit A− to a 3.8 / 60-credit record: (228 + 11.1) / 63 = 3.795. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
What is the difference between A and A−?
0.3 GPA points per course (4.0 vs 3.7). Over 120 credits, the cumulative gap between all-A and all-A− is exactly 0.30 GPA points — the difference between a 4.00 and 3.70 degree GPA.
Does every school give A− grades?
No. Institutions using simple A/B/C/D/F scales without plus/minus modifiers award 4.0 for any A-range score. Check your institution's official grading scale.
Sources
Grade standards
and references
GPA grading standards are maintained by individual institutions; aggregate data is reported to NCES IPEDS. Honours GPA thresholds vary by institution and are published in each school's academic regulations. The College Scorecard provides institutional outcome data. Grading scale definitions are documented by institutional registrars — examples include UC Davis and MIT.
Related reading: What Is a Good GPA? · GPA for Graduate School · Latin Honors GPA Cutoffs Explained