Harvard University will cap the number of A grades awarded in each course to roughly 20% of the class [1].
The move represents a significant shift in academic evaluation at one of the world's most prestigious institutions. By limiting the highest marks, the university aims to restore the value of its degrees and address the systemic issue of grade inflation.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences passed the measure on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 [1]. The vote concluded with a 458-to-201 margin in favor of the policy [1]. According to the policy announcement, the cap will be set at 20% of students in each class, though smaller courses may have a margin of plus or minus four A's [3].
This policy is scheduled to take effect in fall 2027 [2]. The decision follows years of rising grade averages that faculty members argue have decoupled academic achievement from the marks assigned.
"Today the Harvard faculty voted to make their grades mean what they say they mean," a Harvard faculty subcommittee statement said [4].
The drive to curb inflation is linked to broader trends in secondary education. Reports indicate that the number of Canadian high-school graduates earning averages of 95% or higher has tripled over the past decade [5]. This trend has contributed to the pressure on universities to maintain rigorous standards as incoming student profiles show increasingly high marks.
However, some critics argue that such caps ignore the reality of student learning. The Washington Post editorial board said, "We know now from decades of research that grades are not scientific or objective measurements of student learning" [6].
“Harvard will limit A's to 20% of students in each class, plus or minus four A's in smaller courses.”
This policy shift signals a move away from the trend of 'grade generosity' seen in many elite North American universities. By implementing a quantitative cap, Harvard is prioritizing the signaling value of a grade over individual student performance metrics. If successful, this could spark a wider debate across U.S. and Canadian higher education regarding whether standardized caps are the only way to counteract the inflation of high school and university marks.
