GPAs have inflated, some say
Has the grade point average inflated over the last few decades?
Some think the former average of a “C” grade is becoming less than satisfactory, and many are wondering if grades around the country, including at Utah State University, have inflated.
Some, like Norm Jones, head of the history department, think they haven’t so much inflated, but say the average grade has gone up from a 2.0 to a 3.0.
“Maybe students are just brighter and more prepared now,” Jones said.
Students might also be dropping out more than they used to, he said. The bad students usually don’t come back to school semester after semester of terrible GPAs.
“I start with a class of 75 and end with 38,” Jones said. “Of course those 38 will be the ones with the highest grades.”
There are many explanations for the number of dropouts. Jones suggested that since a decade or more ago schooling was less expensive, students didn’t have to work like they do now. Working takes more time away from schoolwork. So, it’s not always “stupid” students dropping out, Jones said. A lot of the time, it’s the students who just don’t have the time.
Deborah Reece, an academic adviser in the physics department, maintained that there has been grade inflation. It began about 10 years ago, she said.
“Students expect to get high grades for medium work,” Reece said.
She agreed with Jones that the average GPA has gone up one point – from a 2.0 to a 3.0.
Reece also mentioned that test scores might be going up among prospective college and current college students, because they are getting better at taking tests.
Ann Leffler, an associate dean in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said since she is a sociologist, she’s trained herself not to speculate on things like this without good, hard evidence.
Leffler used to think there might be a grade inflation occurring, but about a year ago she saw a couple of studies from Harvard and the U.S. Department of Education implying there had not been a significant, or any, grade inflation over the years. She said she has decided not to make any generalizations on issues that need empirical evidence.
“I think it depends on what kind of student is coming in,” Leffler said. “Ability isn’t necessarily represented by a 4.0.”
She also mentioned that GPA requirements have changed over time, based on how many students are interested in a certain department.
Becky Nudd, a sophomore in liberal arts, agreed with Leffler that there hasn’t been a grade inflation.
“Due to the increase of knowledge and information, classes now would be much harder than they were 20 years ago,” she said.
Nudd said she feels like she’s had to work just as hard, if not harder, than her parents did when they were in school.
Randy Simmons, the political science department head, said he believes almost every professor thinks there has been a grade inflation.
“Most students are going to graduate school now, so they need the good grades,” Simmons said.
He also said students are more likely to go “beg” for a better grade from their professors, because it won’t hurt.
“Students getting C’s and D’s know they deserve the grade – it’s the students getting B+’s that want the A-,” Simmons said.
Reece said many teachers will give out the higher grade if asked because they fear bad teacher evaluations. Simmons agreed that professors sometimes buy the “begging” and end up giving students a higher grade.
So, whether grades have inflated or not, most everyone believes there has been some change with them – if not inflation, than a change in average or a change in teacher and student ability.
-emilieholmes@cc.usu.edu