Pass/Fail Courses Explained: When to Choose One and What It Costs

Pass/fail grading, sometimes called credit/no credit or satisfactory/unsatisfactory, replaces a letter grade with a simple outcome: you either meet the standard or you do not. It sounds like a way to take the pressure off, and it can be. But it also has consequences for your GPA, your degree requirements and your applications that are worth understanding before you choose it.

This guide explains how it works and when it is a good idea.

What pass/fail means

In a pass/fail course, the transcript shows P or F, or similar marks such as CR and NC for credit and no credit, S and U for satisfactory and unsatisfactory. Details vary between institutions.

• Pass. You earn the credit, with no grade points.
• Fail. You do not earn credit, and the course may or may not count in your GPA, depending on the school.

A pass usually requires a minimum performance, commonly equal to a C or a D-minus, which is stated in the catalog. A student who would have earned a B or an A and one who would have earned a C both get the same P.

Two kinds of pass/fail

It helps to know which kind applies.

1. Courses graded pass/fail for everyone, such as some seminars, labs, internships or practicums. You have no choice.
2. Courses you elect to take pass/fail. You choose the option instead of a letter grade, within limits.

The rules for each kind can differ, so read the entry for the course in the catalog.

What it does to your GPA

At most institutions:

• A pass is not included in GPA. It earns credit, but it does not raise or lower the average.
• A fail may count as an F at some schools, and not at others. Check the policy, because this makes a large difference.
• It can keep a hard course from lowering your GPA if you earn a C or lower equivalent, since the grade is hidden.
• It also hides a high grade, since an A becomes a P and does not help the average.

Our guide to how to calculate your GPA shows how quality points work and why a pass has no effect.

Degree requirements

Pass/fail usually has limits:

• Number of credits. Schools commonly cap the number of pass/fail credits that count toward a degree.
• Eligible courses. Courses in your major, minor, general education or prerequisites often must be taken for a letter grade.
• Eligibility. Some schools restrict the option to students above a certain standing or with a minimum GPA.
• Deadlines. You must usually declare the option early in the term.

Check the degree audit and catalog before you choose, since a pass/fail course that does not count toward your requirements still costs time and money.

When it is a good idea

Pass/fail can be a smart choice in some situations:

• Exploring a new subject outside your strengths, such as a science course for an arts student, where the fear of a low grade might stop you from trying.
• Protecting your GPA in a demanding term, when you are balancing a hard course load.
• Pursuing interest in a course that is not required, such as a language or an art class.
• Managing a crisis, when health or family problems limit your capacity.
• Meeting a graduation requirement where a pass is all you need.

In these cases, the pass/fail option lets you learn without risking your GPA.

When it is a bad idea

It can backfire:

• Required courses for your major may not allow it, or may not count it.
• Prerequisites for graduate or professional programs. Many such programs want letter grades in these courses, and some do not accept pass/fail.
• Courses where you could earn an A, since the P hides a grade that could have raised your GPA.
• If a fail counts in your GPA, the downside can be the same as with a letter grade, with none of the upside.
• Scholarships and honors, which may require letter grades or minimum credits.

If you are applying to graduate school, check the prerequisites on your target programs' websites before you elect pass/fail.

How graduate schools and employers see it

Admissions committees see pass/fail grades on your transcript and understand why students use them. A few pass/fail electives rarely cause concern. A transcript with many pass/fail courses, especially in the major or in prerequisites, can raise questions, and some programs state that they do not accept them for required courses. Employers rarely look closely at this, though some ask for transcripts. See our guide on GPA for graduate school applications.

Financial aid and scholarships

Pass/fail credits generally count toward credits attempted and earned for aid purposes, and a fail counts as an attempted course without earned credit. Some scholarships require a minimum number of letter-graded credits to qualify for renewal or honors. If you hold a scholarship, check the terms before changing a course to pass/fail.

Deciding in practice

1. Check the rules, including eligible courses, limits and deadlines.
2. Check your degree audit, to confirm that the course counts.
3. Think about your goals, especially graduate school or honors.
4. Estimate your likely grade. If you expect an A, consider keeping the letter grade.
5. Ask your adviser, and the instructor if needed.
6. Decide before the deadline, and confirm the change in writing or on the registration system.

Study habits with pass/fail

A common trap is to put in less effort because the stakes feel lower. But a pass still requires meeting the minimum standard, and the course content may matter later. Keep a steady study routine, and use the pressure relief to learn more freely, not to coast. Our guide to how to study effectively gives methods that work for any course.

Common mistakes

1. Choosing it for a required course that will not count.
2. Missing the deadline to elect the option.
3. Assuming a fail does not count in GPA without checking.
4. Hiding an A that would have helped the average.
5. Ignoring graduate school prerequisites.
6. Coasting and failing to meet the standard.

A worked example of the GPA effect

Suppose a student has 60 credits at a 3.4 average, which is 204 quality points. They take a three-credit course pass/fail and earn the equivalent of a B-minus. With a letter grade, the course would contribute 3 times 2.7, which is 8.1 quality points, and the GPA would become 212.1 divided by 63, or 3.37.

With a pass, the quality points and attempted credits for GPA stay at 204 and 60, so the average stays 3.4, and the course adds three credits toward graduation. In this case, the pass option protected a small amount of GPA. Had they earned an A, the letter grade would have raised it to 3.43.

Talking to your adviser

Before electing pass/fail, ask your adviser three questions. Does the course count toward my degree and the requirements I still need? Could it matter for the graduate programs I am considering? Are there limits on the number of pass/fail credits that I have already used? A short conversation can prevent a choice that quietly costs you later.

If you are unsure, a useful test is to ask whether you would be comfortable explaining the choice to an admissions officer or an employer. Taking a pass/fail course to explore a new subject is easy to explain. Taking a major-related course pass/fail to avoid a lower grade is harder, and it may be read as avoiding challenge. When in doubt, keep letter grades for courses that matter to your future plans and use pass/fail for genuine exploration.

The bottom line

Pass/fail grading gives you credit without grade points, which can protect your GPA and encourage exploration. But it is limited by degree rules, can hide good grades and may not be accepted for prerequisites or honors. Check the rules and your goals, and decide before the deadline.