Grading System & GPA Calculation
Effective Fall 2015, Emmaus University has adopted a plus/minus grading scale and GPA calculation for all courses.
Prior to Fall 2015, instructors may have assigned plus/minus course grades but GPA calculation was based on the basic form of those letter grades. For example, all forms of the letter grade C (C+, C, and C-) were assigned a grade point of 2.0. The new system calculates GPA more precisely, thus representing student achievement more accurately.
Effective Fall 2015, grade points and generally-accepted percentage ranges are assigned to each letter grade as follows. Please note that instructors will no longer assign a grade of D-.
| Grade | Grade Points | Percentage |
| A+ | 4.3 | 99-100 |
| A | 4.0 | 93-98 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69 |
| D | 1.0 | 65-66 |
| F | 0.0 | 064 |
This change is not retroactive to any prior semesters of enrollment. Grade thresholds for pre-requisites or program requirements have not changed. Thresholds currently defined as a grade of C or B are considered the basic form of those letter grades: C = 2.0 and B = 3.0.
To illustrate how this change may affect a student’s grade point average (GPA), please review the examples below:
Student A enrolled in the following courses in Fall 2014 (under the old system) and earned the grades noted. Applying the old guidelines, Student A’s GPA was calculated as follows:
| Courses | Credit Hours | Grade Points | Total Points |
| ENG 101 | 3 | B+/3.0 | 9.0 |
| MAT 140 | 3 | A-/4.0 | 12.0 |
| CS 101 | 3 | C+/2.0 | 6.0 |
| Total | 9 credit hours | 27.0 points |
Student A earned a total of 27.0 grade points for the semester, resulting in a semester GPA of 3.0 (27 grade points divided by 9 credit hours).
Student B enrolled in the same courses in Fall 2015 (under the new system) and earned the same grades as Student A. Under the new guidelines, Student B’s GPA will be calculated as follows:
| Courses | Credit Hours | Grade Points | Total Points |
| ENG 101 | 3 | B+/3.3 | 9.9 |
| MAT 140 | 3 | A-/3.7 | 11.1 |
| CS 101 | 3 | C+/2.3 | 6.9 |
| Total | 9 credit hours | 27.9 points |
Using the new system, Student B will earn a total of 27.9 grade points for the semester, resulting in a semester GPA of 3.1 (27.9 grade points divided by 9 credit hours).
Student C took the same courses as Student B in Fall 2015 and achieved the same grades in University Math and Fundamental Computer Literacy but earned a lower grade in English Composition. Student C’s GPA will be calculated as follows:
| Courses | Credit Hours | Grade Points | Total Points |
| ENG 101 | 3 | B-/2.7 | 8.1 |
| MAT 140 | 3 | A-/3.7 | 11.1 |
| CS 101 | 3 | C+/2.3 | 6.9 |
| Total | 9 credit hours | 26.1 points |
Student C will earn a total of 26.1 grade points for the semester, resulting in a semester GPA of 2.9 (26.1 grade points divided by 9 credit hours).