The University of Michigan announced a new grading policy set to begin in fall 2027 for incoming freshmen enrolled in its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Under this initiative, students’ first-semester letter grades will be recorded as pass or no credit on their official transcripts, aiming to "curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals."

While students will receive letter grades throughout the semester, the final averages will not appear on transcripts nor be factored into grade point averages. University officials say this approach will provide first-year students greater academic freedom to explore courses without the pressure of traditional grading.

"Our goal is to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys — core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education," the university stated. The LSA, the largest of the university’s 19 colleges with approximately 19,700 undergraduates, emphasized its commitment to fostering a culture of connection and collaboration rather than competition.

The university also noted that an opt-in system would undermine the policy’s purpose of supporting mental health and well-being and encouraging intrinsic motivation for learning.

Michigan joins a small group of institutions, including MIT, Swarthmore College, and Caltech, that have implemented similar pass-fail grading policies for freshmen.

However, some experts, including psychotherapists, have expressed concerns that such policies may have unintended consequences.

Sources

University of Michigan campus
University of Michigan students walk on campus in Ann Arbor, Mich., April 3, 2025. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)