3000 Grading

Original Date: 6/2/1989 * Last Revision Effective: 4/20/2024
Policy Contact: Senior Academic Officer

Policy

Bellevue College uses a letter grading system to reflect student achievement. Letter grades factor into a student’s Bellevue College grade point average (GPA), as indicated below. Generally, all courses are graded A-F unless an alternative grade is indicated in the course catalog.

Grading Criteria

BC Letter Grades A-F with assigned decimal values and decimal equivalents for transfer-in calculations. The college rounds transfer-in decimal grades to the nearest tenth.

A grades indicate outstanding achievement

  • A = 4.0 points per credit hour
  • Decimal equivalent for transfer-in calculations = 4.0
  • A- = 3.7 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 3.7-3.9 are calculated as an A-

B grades indicate high achievement

  • B+ = 3.3 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 3.3-3.6 are calculated as a B+
  • B = 3.0 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 3.0-3.2 are calculated as a B
  • B- = 2.7 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 2.7-2.9 are calculated as a B-

C grades indicate adequate achievement

  • C+ = 2.3 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 2.3-2.6 are calculated as a C+
  • C = 2.0 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 2.0-2.2 are calculated as a C
  • C- = 1.7 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 1.7-1.9 are calculated as a C-

D grades indicate poor achievement

  • D+ = 1.3 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 1.3-1.6 are calculated as a D+
  • D = 1.0 points per credit hour
  • Transfer-in grades of 1.0-1.2 are calculated as a D

F grades indicate inadequate achievement

  • F = 0.0
  • The college does not transfer-in grades below a D

Other Grades

Satisfactory

S = 2.0 points per credit hour or higher

  • Indicates a grade of C or higher
  • Students earn credit
  • No points calculated into the Bellevue College GPA
  • Use is determined by the college

Unsatisfactory

U = less than 2.0 points per credit hour

  • Indicates a grade of less than a C
  • Students earn no credit
  • No points calculated into the Bellevue College GPA; treated as an F grade for financial aid purposes
  • Use is determined by the college

Credit

CR = no decimal value

  • Students earn credit
  • No points calculated into the Bellevue College GPA
  • Use is determined by the college

No Credit

NC = no decimal value

  • Students earn no credit
  • No points calculated into the Bellevue College GPA; treated as an F grade for financial aid purposes
  • Use is determined by the college

Other Designations

Official Withdrawal

W = no decimal value

  • Students initiate an official withdrawal during the established deadlines as listed on the academic calendar
  • Does not calculate into the Bellevue College GPA
  • See Policy 2450, Official Withdrawal from a Course, for details

Audit

N = no decimal value

  • Students receive instruction, but do not earn grades or points.
  • Available option for all students.
  • Does not calculate into the Bellevue College GPA

Incomplete

I = no decimal value

  • Students did not fulfill the requirements needed to complete the class.
  • Issued at instructor’s discretion.
  • Students must have completed 85 percent of the required work and have a grade of C or better at the time the incomplete is issued.
  • Does not calculate into the Bellevue College GPA

Academic Renewal

X = no decimal value

  • Issued retrospectively to students approved for academic renewal
  • Does not calculate into the Bellevue College GPA

 

Revision History

Original 6/2/1989
Revisions 12/31/1999; 3/22/2005; 5/21/2009; 9/11/2012; 2/5/2014; 1/10/2018; 4/24/2019; 4/20/2024

Approved By

Board of Trustees

Last Updated April 26, 2024