The University of Michigan is changing how its largest college handles first-year grades. Starting in the fall of 2027, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts will implement a new grading policy for freshmen. Under this program, first-semester transcripts will show a pass or no-credit mark instead of traditional letter grades.
University officials state this move is a direct response to rising mental health concerns among college students. The program aims to help students acclimate to the demands of higher education without the intense pressure of GPA performance in their initial months on campus. The university wants to encourage students to explore academic subjects based on personal interest rather than competition for grades.
Students will continue to receive internal grades and feedback from instructors during their first semester. These grades will remain on file for academic advisement, scholarships, and potential honors. However, these results will not appear on external transcripts and will not affect a student's official grade point average for that period. Beginning in the second semester, standard letter grading resumes for all students.
This pilot program is part of a broader push to improve student momentum across the institution. By removing the immediate weight of letter grades, the administration hopes to create a more supportive start to the college experience. This change aligns the university with several other prominent institutions that have adopted flexible or non-traditional grading systems to support undergraduate health and academic engagement.