Scholastic Recognition

Criteria for University recognition

Purdue University sets specific criteria for students to achieve scholastic recognition. This recognition may include Dean's List, Semester Honors, and/or Graduation with Distinction or Graduation with Highest Distinction. For your convenience, these criteria are explained below.

Semester Honors are recognized when a student achieves all of the following:

  • Have at least 6 credits hours included in the semester GPA
  • Attain at least a 3.5 semester GPA
  • Have at least a 2.0 overall GPA

Dean's List students are recognized when a student achieves all of the following:

  • Have at least 6 credits hours included in the semester GPA
  • Have at least a 3.0 current semester GPA
  • Have at least 12 hours included in the overall GPA
  • Attain at least a 3.5 overall GPA
  • Baccalaureate candidate must have a minimum of 65 credit hours earned at Purdue
  • Minimum overall GPA shall be no less than the 90th percentile of the graduation index for each school (provided that the index is at least 3.30)
    • All baccalaureate engineering graduates will be considered as one school

 Of those graduates who qualify for distinction under these rules for spring semester, the three-tenth of those with the highest overall GPA will be designated as “highest distinction”.

Students enrolled in the College of Agriculture Dean's Scholars program are recognized upon graduation if they have completed the requirements specific to the Dean's Scholars program.

Students enrolled in Purdue Honors College are recognized upon graduation if they have completed the requirements specific to the Honors College.

Calculating Your Grade Point Average (GPA)

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is the total number of Quality Points divided by the total number of credit hours attempted. (Quality Points are simply the weight, the numeric value assigned each grade, multiplied by the number of credit hours for the course.)

Determining Quality Points

Quality Points are simply the weight, the numeric value assigned each grade, multiplied by the number of credit hours for the course.

Grade Weight Quality Points = Weight x Credit Hours
A+ 4.0 4.0 x Credit Hours
A 4.0 4.0 x Credit Hours
A- 3.7 3.7 x Credit Hours
B+ 3.3 3.3 x Credit Hours
B 3.0 3.0 x Credit Hours
B- 2.7 2.7 x Credit Hours
C+ 2.3 2.3 x Credit Hours
C 2.0 2.0 x Credit Hours
C- 1.7 1.7 x Credit Hours
D+ 1.3 1.3 x Credit Hours
D 1.0 1.0 x Credit Hours
D- 0.7 0.7 x Credit Hours
F 0.0 0.0 x Credit Hours

 

Notes:

1. Not all courses use +/- grades. Please refer to your course syllabi for more information.

2. Grades of W, WF, and WN are not included in GPA calculations.