University of Michigan to Drop Letter Grades for First-Semester Students

The University of Michigan has revealed that it plans to no longer use the traditional letter grades for first-semester students in an effort to “curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals”.

The institution said it will switch to a designation of either “pass” or “no credit” to students in their first semester enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) as part of a new pilot scheme set to commence fall 2027 aiming “to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys” and foster “a culture of connection and collaboration – rather than competition”.

The school will continue to track grades of all enrolled first-semester students internally to evaluate honors, and scholarship and internship applications but for the courses taken during that semester, they will receive either a passing or no credit designation which will not impact their overall GPA.

Speaking to the University Record, Dean Rosario Ceballo, who is also a professor of psychology, and of women’s and gender studies in LSA, said: “We recognize that a pilot program of this size raises important questions, and we do not intend to build it in isolation.”

“The pilot program’s success depends on partnership and input from the people who know our students and our college best. We will continue to collaborate with colleagues across LSA and the broader university community so that together we can co-create a pilot program that is ambitious, responsive and grounded in the shared goal of helping first-year students thrive.”

The Healthy Minds Study, based at the University of Michigan, saw findings of their 2024-2025 survey show that 37% of students reported of having moderate or severe depressive symptoms, while 32% of students reported of having moderate or severe anxiety symptoms.

Ceballo added: “I believe this pilot program has the potential to not only address the alarming rates of stress, depression and anxiety among our students, but to deliver on our core promise as a liberal arts and sciences college.”

Tim McKay, LSA associate dean for undergraduate education, also affirmed in the same report that the scheme “would provide LSA students with a smooth on-ramp as they accelerate from high school into a rigorous college education; a chance to refine their academic skills and build early momentum.”

Other schools in the U.S. have adopted similar grade-covering models for first-semester students, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, and Wellesley College.

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