The University of Michigan announced on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026, that it will implement a pass-or-fail grading system for first-semester students in its College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA). This pilot program replaces traditional letter grades with "pass or no credit" on transcripts. The initiative aims to "curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals" by helping first-year students acclimate to college demands and encouraging intrinsic motivation over competition.

The decision follows findings from the 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study, which reported a decrease in symptoms of severe depression among college students to 18%, down from 23% in 2022, and a drop in suicidal ideation to 11%, from 15% over the same period. Rosario Ceballo, dean of the University of Michigan, told the University Record that the grading change "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."

Timothy McKay, LSA associate dean for undergraduate education, said the program "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."

Similar initiatives have been adopted by other institutions, including the California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Harvard faculty voted in May to cap A grades at roughly 20% to combat grade inflation.

Additionally, the University of California San Diego reported an increase in students requiring remedial math before precalculus, rising to 8.5% in 2025 from 0.5% in 2020, highlighting ongoing academic challenges.

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