A D+ is worth 1.3 on the standard 4.0 GPA scale used by most colleges and universities. The percentage equivalent typically falls between 67 and 69.9%, though exact cutoffs vary slightly by school.
How a D+ Fits on the 4.0 Scale
Letter grades translate to numerical values that are used to calculate your GPA. Here is where a D+ sits relative to nearby grades:
- C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3
- D = 1.0
- D- = 0.7
- F = 0.0
Some institutions use slightly different point values. A small number of schools assign a D+ a value of 1.5 instead of 1.3. Check your college’s grading policy in its academic catalog if precision matters for your situation.
Does a D+ Count as Passing?
At most colleges, a D is the lowest grade that still counts as passing. A D+ clears that bar, so you would earn credit for the course and it would not show as a failed class on your transcript.
That said, “passing” and “counts toward your degree” are not always the same thing. Many schools require a C or C- minimum in courses within your major or minor. At some universities, a D+ satisfies a general education requirement but would not count if the same course is part of your major. Prerequisite courses often have the same restriction: if a later class requires you to pass the prerequisite with a C or better, a D+ means you will need to retake it before moving on.
Your department’s advising page or the course catalog will spell out which courses have minimum grade requirements. If you are unsure, check before assuming the credit will apply.
How a D+ Affects Your GPA
Because your GPA is a weighted average of all your course grades, a single D+ can pull it down significantly, especially early in college when you have fewer total credit hours. For example, if you are carrying 15 credits of B-level work (3.0 each) and earn a D+ in a 3-credit course, your semester GPA would drop from 3.0 to roughly 2.72.
The lower your credit total, the more weight each grade carries. A D+ in your first semester hits harder than a D+ in your senior year when dozens of other credits cushion the average. If you retake the course and earn a higher grade, many schools replace the old grade in your GPA calculation or average the two attempts. Policies vary, so confirm your school’s retake rules.
Financial Aid and Academic Standing
Federal financial aid requires you to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, commonly called SAP. SAP has two parts: a minimum GPA (the qualitative standard) and a pace requirement ensuring you complete enough of the credits you attempt (the quantitative standard). After your second academic year, federal rules require at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a C average, to keep receiving aid.
A D+ earning 1.3 points per credit pulls your cumulative GPA toward or below that 2.0 threshold. One D+ in an otherwise solid transcript probably will not trigger a problem, but a pattern of low grades can put you on financial aid warning or, eventually, make you ineligible for federal loans and grants until you bring your GPA back up or successfully appeal. Schools evaluate SAP at set checkpoints, typically at the end of each semester or payment period.
When Retaking the Course Makes Sense
Retaking a course after earning a D+ is worth considering in a few situations. If the course is a prerequisite for something you still need, and your school requires a C or better in prerequisites, you have no choice. If the course is in your major and the department does not accept grades below C-, the credit will not count toward graduation regardless of the passing mark. And if your cumulative GPA is close to the 2.0 line, replacing a 1.3 with a B (3.0) in even one three-credit course can meaningfully raise your average.
Keep in mind that retaking a course means paying tuition for those credits again, and federal aid rules limit how many times you can receive financial aid for the same course. Generally, aid covers one retake of a previously passed course. If you passed with a D+ and retake it once, that attempt is typically eligible for aid. A third attempt usually is not.
Transfer Credits and a D+ Grade
If you plan to transfer to another school, a D+ may not come with you. Many colleges only accept transfer credits for courses completed with a C or higher. Even when a school does accept a D+ for transfer credit, it may not fulfill the same requirement it would have at the original institution. Your new school’s transfer credit office will evaluate each course individually, so a D+ that counted toward your general education at one college could be rejected at another.