A D is the lowest passing grade at most schools, corresponding to a score of 60% or above. An F, anything below 60%, is the only truly failing letter grade. But “passing” doesn’t always mean a grade counts toward your degree, your major, or your financial aid eligibility, and that distinction matters more than the letter itself.
The Standard Letter Grade Scale
Most schools in the United States use a scale where each letter grade maps to a percentage range:
- A range (90–100%): Excellent performance. Includes A+ at some schools, A, and A-.
- B range (80–89%): Above average. Includes B+, B, and B-.
- C range (70–79%): Average. Includes C+, C, and C-.
- D range (60–69%): Below average but still passing. Includes D+ and D.
- F (below 60%): Failing. No credit earned.
Some schools use slightly different cutoffs, and a handful use a 7-point scale where each letter spans about seven percentage points instead of ten. Your syllabus or school catalog will specify which scale applies. The 10-point scale above is by far the most common.
When a D Counts and When It Doesn’t
A D is technically passing at most colleges and universities, but it comes with serious limitations. Many programs treat a D differently depending on where the course falls in your academic plan.
For general electives, a D usually earns you credit. The course shows as completed on your transcript, and the credit hours count toward your total. For courses in your major or minor, though, schools frequently require a C or higher. At many universities, a D in a major course means you need to retake it even though it’s not an F. The same is often true for prerequisite courses: if a class is a gateway to a more advanced course, earning a D may not qualify you to move on.
Business programs illustrate this well. Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, for example, requires a C or higher in all prerequisite courses for its core curriculum, while allowing a D- in other courses as long as the student maintains a 2.0 cumulative GPA (a C average). Many nursing, engineering, and education programs set similar thresholds.
At some schools, earning multiple D grades in a single semester can trigger academic probation, which may limit your course load, restrict extracurricular participation, or put you on a timeline to raise your GPA or face dismissal.
How Pass/Fail Grading Works
When you take a course pass/fail instead of for a letter grade, “pass” typically means you earned at least a D. Some schools set the bar higher and require a C for a pass. A passing mark gives you credit for the course, and the grade doesn’t factor into your GPA at all, which is the main appeal of the option.
Failing a pass/fail course is more complicated. At some schools, a fail registers as zero grade points and drags your GPA down because the attempted credits still count in the calculation. At others, the fail doesn’t affect your GPA but you lose the credit hours entirely. Either way, you don’t earn credit for the course.
Pass/fail is generally best for electives outside your major. Graduate and professional school admissions committees often prefer to see letter grades in core coursework, and some programs won’t accept pass/fail credits toward major requirements.
GPA Thresholds That Matter
Individual course grades feed into your cumulative GPA, and that number carries its own set of passing benchmarks. A 2.0 GPA (equivalent to a C average) is the standard minimum for graduation at most colleges. Many schools also require a 2.0 within your major coursework specifically, so a strong GPA in electives can’t compensate for weak performance in your field of study.
Your GPA also determines whether you keep your financial aid. Federal regulations require schools to set a satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy for students receiving financial aid. By the end of your second academic year, you must have at least a 2.0 GPA. You also need to complete credits at a sufficient pace: if your program requires 120 credits, you generally must finish within 180 attempted credits (150% of the program length). Repeated courses, withdrawals, and failed classes all count as attempted credits, which means a string of D grades you later retake can push you toward that ceiling even if you eventually pass everything.
K–12 Grading Standards
In middle school and high school, the same A-through-F scale generally applies, with D (60% and above) as the lowest passing grade. The practical consequences differ by grade level. In elementary and middle school, students who fail courses may be required to attend summer school or, in some districts, repeat the grade. In high school, each course earns credits toward graduation, and an F means no credit for that class. Students who fail required courses typically need to retake them, either during the school year, in summer school, or through credit recovery programs.
High school students aiming for competitive colleges should know that a D, while passing, will stand out on a transcript. Selective admissions offices look for consistent performance in rigorous coursework, and a D in a core subject can raise questions even if it technically counts toward your diploma.
What Counts as Passing for Graduate School
Graduate programs hold students to a higher standard. Most master’s and doctoral programs require a 3.0 GPA (a B average) to remain in good standing, and many consider anything below a B- or C unsatisfactory in individual courses. A grade of C may technically be passing at the graduate level, but accumulating more than one or two can put you on academic probation or lead to dismissal from the program. A D or F in graduate coursework almost always means retaking the course and potentially jeopardizing your standing.
How to Check Your School’s Policy
Grading policies vary enough from school to school that the safest move is to check your own institution’s rules. Look in your school’s academic catalog or bulletin, usually available online, under headings like “grading policies,” “academic standards,” or “degree requirements.” Pay attention to three things: the minimum passing grade for general courses, the minimum grade required in your major, and the cumulative GPA needed for graduation. If your program has prerequisite chains, where one course is required before you can take the next, check whether a D satisfies the prerequisite or whether you need a C or better to advance.