Learn the Pierce College Grading System and Policy

Pierce College’s grading system provides a permanent record of student performance and achievement. Grades are reported as decimals to the nearest tenth. Grade point averages (GPA) are computed to the nearest hundredth.

2025-26 Catalog - Grading System and Policy

Decimal Grades and Symbols

The numeric grades shown in the columns below will appear on the student record. The letter grades are an approximate equivalency guide to the official Pierce College decimal grades. Specific decimal grades may be required to meet a class prerequisite, maintain good academic standing, maintain satisfactory academic progress, receive credit toward a degree, and meet program-specific requirements.

NUMERIC GRADE	LETTER GRADE EQUIVALENT
4.0 - 3.9	A
3.8 - 3.5	A-
3.4 - 3.2	B+
3.1 - 2.9	B
2.8 - 2.5	B-
2.4 - 2.2	C+
2.1 - 1.9	C
1.8 - 1.5	C-
1.4 - 1.2	D+
1.1 - 1.0	D (lowest passing grade)
0.0	F Indicates student did not do passing work in the course, did not attend during the quarter, or did not officially withdraw

Grade Symbols

*	Grade missing or not yet issued.
I	Incomplete: Issued when a student has been delayed in completing the required work. Time limit for removal of “I” grade is determined by the instructor but is not to exceed four quarters following the quarter in which the grade was issued. An “I” grade on a transcript after one year (four quarters) is automatically converted to a “0.0.”
N	Audit: Not computed in GPA.
NC	No Credit: Faculty-initiated grade. This grade is not computed in the grade point average and cannot be changed.
S	Satisfactory: Indicates the student is making satisfactory progress but has not completed all the competencies for a given level of instruction. No credit is received. The “S” grade is used only for ABE and ESL classes numbered under 100. Courses with “S” grade desiccators cannot be applied toward any degree or certificate program. Not computed in GPA.
W	Withdrawal: Student-initiated by following official withdrawal procedures. Not computed in GPA.
WE	Excused withdrawal: Administrative grade Issued when a student has been administratively withdrawn due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Must be approved by the Registrar. Not computed in GPA.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Grade point averages are calculated by dividing the grade points by the credit hours completed.

EXAMPLE

HIST& 156	5 credits x 2.2 (grade) =	11.0 grade points
PSYC& 100	5 credits x 3.7 (grade) =	18.5 grade points
MATH& 107	5 credits x 2.6 (grade) =	13.0 grade points
COLLG 110	3 credits x 3.8 (grade) =	11.4 grade points
	Total 18 credits	53.9 grade points

53.9 grade points divided by 18.0 credits = 2.99 GPA

Pass/No Pass

Students may take a class for pass/no pass credit if the class is not in the student’s major field of study or if the class does not fulfill a core requirement for the student’s Pierce College degrees. Classes taken as pass/no pass may only be used as general elective credit for AA-DTA and AS-T degrees. Classes that are prerequisites for other courses should not be taken pass/no pass with the exception of ABE/ESL classes.

The student and instructor must sign a pass/no pass contract before the last instructional day of the quarter with the exception of ABE/ESL courses. Pass/no pass grades are not computed in the GPA. “NP” is assigned when minimum standards of the class are not met.

Students may withdraw from a class being taken pass/no pass by following the same procedures as for any other class.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat a course to improve their grades; however, all grades will remain on the transcript. A course may be repeated only twice (taken a total of three times) unless otherwise specified in the college catalog. Students must re-register and pay all associated tuition and fees to repeat a course. Some programs may have more restrictive policies regarding repeating courses. Consult with programs for specific information.

Repeats must be for classes with the identical course department, number and credit level with the exception of college-initiated changes to course departments and/or numbers. All classes to which the repeat policy applies must be taken at Pierce College.

Once the class repeat has been processed, a repeated notation will be on the student’s transcript to indicate the class has been repeated. If there are multiple repeats of the same class only the highest grade earned will be calculated into the grade point average (GPA). The college administratively calculates and posts the repeat desiccator on repeated classes. The repeat process is not applied to grade symbols I, NC, NP, P, W, or WE, as these are not calculated in the GPA. The repeat indicator cannot be applied to a class if that class was used to meet the completion requirements of a posted degree or certificate.

Students who plan to transfer to another institution and/or plan to apply to programs with specific grade/entrance requirements should be aware that their GPAs might be recomputed by that institution and/or program. Repeated courses will be received in accordance with the receiving institution and/or program’s own requirements and policies. Students receiving financial aid, veterans benefits, or other third party funding, and/or those participating in athletics should consult those offices prior to repeating a course. Benefits or eligibility may be reduced or lost due to course repetition.

Grade Changes

Grade changes occur only when a legitimate error has been made in computing, reporting or recording a grade, or when a temporary grade (such as “I” Incomplete) needs to be changed to a permanent grade. Grade changes are reported by the class instructor to the records office.

Grade changes will be accepted and posted to a student record up to four quarters (including summer) following the quarter in which the original grade was issued. This time limitation applies to “I” grades as well as other grades. Exceptions to the four-quarter time limit may be made only in cases of documented grading errors.

An “I” grade on a transcript after one year (four quarters) will be automatically converted to a “0.0” without instructor input.

Students with questions regarding a class grade should contact the class instructor. When one year has elapsed from the time the grade was issued, the grade becomes a permanent part of the student’s record.

Grade Report

Grades are accessible via the Student Home Page in ctcLink. Students with questions regarding a class grade should contact the class instructor. When one year has elapsed from the time the grade was issued, the grade will become a permanent part of the student’s record.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

Grade forgiveness gives students who wish to continue their education at Pierce College a fresh start from previous grades that are detrimental to their educational goals.

The following conditions are required in order to petition for grade forgiveness:

Currently enrolled in the Pierce College District.
Have a period of four (4) consecutive quarters of no enrollment in credit classes in the Pierce College District.
Complete a minimum of 24 credits from the Pierce College District after return.
At time of petition, have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in coursework at Pierce College after return.

Classes petitioned cannot have been used toward a previously earned degree or certificate. Grade forgiveness can only be granted once. Students have an option to have one designated quarter only or the designated quarter and all previous quarters forgiven. Only classes prior to the stop out period may be petitioned. Classes that a student successfully completed in a forgiven quarter with a 2.0 or higher will remain in the GPA/Credit calculations and will not be forgiven.

If the petition is approved:

The original grade(s) remain on the student’s transcript.
Forgiven grades are not calculated in the Pierce College GPA.
Forgiven classes cannot be used to meet degree/certificate requirements.
Forgiven classes cannot be used to satisfy prerequisites for future courses.
Forgiven classes cannot be reinstated.

All amendments to a student’s transcript shall be made by the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student in writing of the decision and include an updated transcript for approved petitions.

Grades forgiven through this policy may or may not be honored by Pierce College special/selective admissions programs and other educational institutions as each institution interprets transcripts according to its own policies.

Students receiving funding from sources such as financial aid and veterans educational benefits are subject to federal regulations and guidelines. Students are advised to contact financial aid and/or their funding source to determine how this policy may affect funding.

Course Grade Appeal

Student Grade Appeal Procedure

Procedures are established for a student to appeal a final grade. Students who believe they have been awarded final course grades improperly by members of the faculty may appeal those grades. Only final course grades may be appealed. The grade appeal process encompasses informal, formal and appeal steps. Formal grade appeals must be initiated by a student within 30 instructional days, not including summer quarter, following the official posting of the grade by the college to the student’s academic record.

Copies of the procedure are also available in the Offices of the Vice Presidents of Learning and Student Success, Division Offices, the Offices of the Deans of Student Success, and the Student Life Offices.

Academic Honors

Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits for the quarter and earn the quarterly grade point average (GPA) listed below for that quarter will receive the associated honor.

4.0 GPA – Chancellor’s List
3.90 to 3.99 GPA – President’s List
3.50 to 3.89 GPA – Dean’s List

At the time of degree/certificate awarding, students who earn a cumulative college-level grade point average of 3.5 or above for all Pierce College credits with a minimum of 25 credits earned at Pierce College will be considered an Honors Graduate. The annual commencement program is printed prior to the end of spring quarter; therefore, honors notations in the program are based on a student’s Pierce College transcript through winter quarter.