Do Pass/Fail Classes Affect Your GPA? (P/NP, W and Incompletes)
Not every mark on your transcript is a letter grade. Pass/fail options, withdrawals and incompletes each follow their own rules, and getting them wrong can make your GPA estimate way off.
Pass/fail (P/NP, S/U, CR/NC)
At most schools, a pass earns credit toward graduation but no grade points, so it doesn’t change your GPA at all. A fail varies. Many schools treat it as no credit with no GPA effect, but some count it as an F. When you use our GPA calculator, simply leave passed pass/fail courses out.
When pass/fail makes sense
- An elective outside your major that you want to explore without risk
- A semester when your workload or personal circumstances are unusually heavy
When to avoid it
- Required courses for your major, which often must be taken for a letter grade
- Prerequisites for medical, dental or other professional programs, where admissions offices often prefer letter grades
Withdrawals (W)
A “W” generally has no GPA impact, but it does appear on your transcript. One or two are rarely a concern, while a pattern can raise questions. Some schools use “WF” (withdrew failing), which may count as an F. Also check how a withdrawal affects financial aid and full-time status.
Incompletes (I)
An incomplete is a placeholder while you finish outstanding work. It doesn’t count until a final grade is posted, but many schools convert unresolved incompletes to an F after a deadline, so don’t let one lapse.
Repeated courses
With grade replacement, the new grade replaces the old one in your GPA. Remove the original attempt’s credits and quality points when you recalculate. Graduate and professional application services often count every attempt, though.
Quick reference
| Transcript mark | Earns credit? | Affects GPA? |
|---|---|---|
| P / S / CR | Yes | Usually no |
| NP / U / NC | No | Usually no (sometimes an F) |
| W | No | No |
| WF | No | Sometimes (as F) |
| I | Not yet | Not until graded |
| AU (audit) | No | No |
Policies differ by school, so confirm with your registrar before deciding. Then plug in your letter-graded courses to see the real effect. Our guide on how to calculate GPA walks through the full method.
Pass/fail during special semesters
Some colleges have offered expanded pass/fail options during emergencies, such as the 2020 shift to remote learning. Admissions committees generally understood those semesters. If your transcript shows them, a short note in your application’s additional information section can give useful context.
FAQs
Does a pass count as an A?
No. A pass carries no grade points, so it neither raises nor lowers your GPA.
Can a pass/fail class hurt me?
Not your GPA, usually. But too many pass/fail courses in your major, or in prerequisites for professional school, can make your transcript harder to evaluate.
How do I show pass/fail courses on my GPA calculation?
Leave them out. Enter only letter-graded courses into our GPA calculator, and include previously completed letter-graded credits in the cumulative fields.
