Is My Grade Passing? Quick Answer by Grade

"Is C+ passing?" "Is 61% passing?" Passing thresholds vary by institution and by course — enter your percentage, letter grade, or GPA below and see it checked against the most common passing conventions instantly.

Is C+ Passing?

Yes. C+ (commonly 77–79%) is a passing grade at essentially every US college or university, where the general floor is 60% (D-). That said, many science, engineering, business, and education programs require a C (70%+) or better specifically in major-required and prerequisite courses for the grade to satisfy that requirement — a C+ clears that bar too, but a C- (70-72%) sometimes does not, depending on the exact policy.

Is 61% a Passing Grade?

Generally yes — 61% clears the common 60% (D-) passing floor used at most US institutions. But if your specific course requires a C (70%) minimum — common for prerequisites and major-required classes — 61% would not satisfy that stricter requirement, even though it counts as a passing grade for credit and GPA purposes overall.

Is an 88 a B+?

Usually yes — 88% commonly falls within the B+ range (typically 87–89%), but the exact cutoff is set by your school or instructor. Some grading scales place B+ at 85–89%, others at 88–90%. Check your syllabus's specific grading scale, or use the GPA calculator's letter grade table for the standard scale used across this site.

What's the Minimum Passing Grade, Overall?

60% (D-) is the most common floor at US colleges and universities. Graduate programs frequently set a higher bar — 70% or 73% (C) is typical, since many graduate programs don't award any grade below a B for credit. High schools vary even more by district. The safest approach: check your specific institution's official grading policy rather than assuming a single universal number.

Does "Passing" Mean Different Things for Different Requirements?

Yes, and this is the most common source of confusion. A grade can simultaneously "pass" the course (earn credit and count toward your GPA at, say, 60%) while not satisfying a prerequisite or major requirement, which is often set higher (70%+ / C or better). If you're asking "is this passing" because you need the course as a prerequisite for something else, check that specific requirement's minimum — not just the general institutional floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — C+ (typically 77–79%) is a passing grade at essentially every US institution, where the general floor is 60% (D-). However, many science, engineering, business, and education programs require a C (70%+) or better in major-specific courses for it to count toward degree requirements — check your specific program's policy.

Yes, at most US colleges — 61% clears the common 60% (D-) passing floor. But if your course or major requires a C (70%) or C- (73% at some schools) minimum, 61% would not satisfy that stricter requirement even though it's technically a passing grade overall.

Usually, yes — 88% commonly falls in the B+ range (typically 87–89%), though the exact cutoff varies by school and instructor. Some grading scales set B+ at 85–89% or 88–90%; check your syllabus's specific grading scale to confirm.

60% (D-) is the most common floor at US colleges, but this varies. Many majors require C (70-73%) or better in prerequisite and major-required courses, and some graduate programs set the bar at 70% or higher for any grade to count. Always check your specific institution's and department's policy.

At most US institutions, D (60-69%, sometimes 60-66%) is technically a passing grade — it earns credit and appears on your transcript as a pass. However, a D usually does not satisfy prerequisite requirements or major-required course minimums, which commonly require a C or better.

No. A general elective might only require 60% (D-) to pass and earn credit, while a prerequisite for your major might require a C (70%+) specifically — earning below that still "passes" in the sense of getting credit, but doesn't satisfy the prerequisite requirement. Always check the specific rule for the course in question, not just your school's overall passing floor.

Is My Grade Passing? — Quick Lookup by Threshold