When exceptional becomes routine: Rising A grades at Princeton spark fresh debate over a shifting academic landscape
Two-thirds of undergraduate grades at Princeton University in the 2024–25 academic year were in the A-range, including A-minus, A, and A-plus, according to a report summarized by The Daily Princetonian. The data, distributed to faculty earlier this week, reflects a continuing upward trend in top grades over the past two decades, and highlights a pattern often described as grade inflation or grade compression.At Monday’s faculty meeting, Dean of the College Michael Gordin discussed the report, voicing concern over the increasing prevalence of A-plus grades while reiterating that grading ultimately falls under departmental control. “A-plus is an unusual grade at this University,” he said. “It is specified in the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty and should be reserved for work of extraordinary merit.”
Record highs in top grades
The report shows that 45.5 percent of all grades in 2024–25 were A or A-plus — the highest proportion in 20 years and nearly 20 percentage points higher than in 2014. The most dramatic jump occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the share of A and A-plus grades increased by almost 10 points between 2019 and 2021, alongside a modest 0.1-point rise in average GPA.Introductory courses at the 100–200 level, often expected to produce a broader distribution of grades, saw 62.6 percent of students receiving A-range marks. Humanities and social sciences contributed significantly to this trend, although A-plus grades were more common in natural sciences and engineering courses, according to the report referenced by The Daily Princetonian.
Independent work shows concentrated grade compression
Senior theses and other independent projects illustrated the sharpest grade clustering. In 2025, 17 departments awarded no thesis grade below a B. Among the University’s ten largest departments, eight gave B or higher to at least 94 percent of majors — exceptions being history and sociology.Such concentration at the top suggests that the traditional signaling role of grades — distinguishing exceptional work from strong or average work — is being diminished. The report refers to this phenomenon as “grade compression,” reflecting how the scale of assessment is narrowing.
A-plus reserved for exceptional work
Under Princeton’s Rules and Procedures of the Faculty, awarding an A-plus requires a formal statement explaining why a student’s work is “truly outstanding.” Gordin reminded faculty that the grade should not be assigned simply based on a curve, emphasizing its role as a marker of extraordinary achievement.
National context
Princeton’s findings come in the wake of a Harvard faculty report criticizing grading there as “failing to perform the key functions of grading,” with 60 percent of undergraduate grades being As in 2025. Princeton itself had a formal grade-deflation policy until 2014, capping A-range grades at 35 percent for coursework and 55 percent for independent work — limits no longer in effect.
Looking ahead
Gordin encouraged departments to consult the Dean of the College’s office for guidance on grading practices. “If any departments want to discuss good practices in grading … we’ll be more than happy to speak with you,” he said.The new report, as reported by The Daily Princetonian, underscores the continuing tension between rewarding student achievement and preserving the meaningful differentiation of grades — a debate now taking center stage at Princeton and other elite universities.
