C− GPA
A C− letter grade equals a 1.7 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale and a percentage of 70–72%. It is the lowest C-range grade — passing, but below the 2.0 institutional minimum at most colleges.
GPA Scale — Letter Grade Conversions
| Letter Grade | Percentage | 4.0 GPA Scale |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93-96% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86% | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76% | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72% | 1.7 ← You Are Here |
| D+ | 67-69% | 1.3 |
| D | 65-66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65% | 0.0 |
What Is a C− Grade?
A C− is the ninth letter grade in the U.S. grading system, sitting between a straight C (2.0) and a D+ (1.3). It represents a score of 70–72% and earns 1.7 grade points on the standard 4.0 scale. A C− is the lowest grade in the C family — you are still technically passing the course, but your GPA contribution per course drops significantly below the 2.0 institutional minimum that most colleges require for academic good standing. A consistent C− average will produce a cumulative GPA of 1.7, which places a college student firmly in academic probation territory.
Is a C− a Good Grade?
A C− is not a good grade by any standard measure. It is technically passing at the course level, but a C− average (1.7 GPA) falls below the 2.0 minimum required for academic good standing at most colleges. It is 1.3 points below the national average of 3.0, below every standard scholarship minimum, and far below the 3.0 floor for graduate programs. The most important thing to understand about a C−: it is passing but academically dangerous. One or two more grades in this range can pull a cumulative GPA below 2.0, which triggers academic probation and financial aid risk at most institutions.
C− Grade for High School Students
In high school, a C− average produces a 1.7 GPA — well below the national average and below the admission minimum at most four-year colleges. Most universities require a minimum of 2.5 for admission, and a 1.7 falls significantly short of that. For high school students with a C− average, community college is the most realistic immediate pathway to a four-year degree. Two strong semesters at community college earning B or higher grades can reset the academic narrative and open transfer doors that a 1.7 high school GPA could not. If you are a freshman or sophomore with a C− average, you still have time to raise it significantly before college applications.
C− Grade for College Students
In college, a C− grade (1.7 grade points) is below the 2.0 institutional floor, which means a consistent C− average will pull your cumulative GPA below the academic good standing threshold. This is not a theoretical risk — it is a near-certainty for any student whose average stays at the C− level over two or more semesters. The consequences include academic probation, financial aid suspension, and the possibility of academic suspension. Acting on a C− average in college means not waiting for the semester to end before changing course. It means making specific, structural changes to study habits, course selection, and daily priorities starting this week.
What Is a 70 or 72 in Letter Grade?
Both a 70% and a 72% fall within the C− range on the standard U.S. grading scale, which covers 70–72%. Both earn 1.7 grade points. A 69% drops into the D+ range (1.3 points), and a 73% rises to a straight C (2.0 points). The boundary at 73% is significant: crossing it from a C− to a C gains 0.3 GPA points per course, which matters substantially when your cumulative GPA is hovering near the 2.0 good standing threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions — C− Grade
A C− earns 1.7 grade points on the standard 4.0 GPA scale. A student with all C− grades in equal-credit courses will have a cumulative GPA of 1.7 — below the 2.0 minimum required for academic good standing at most U.S. colleges. For an academic reference on how C− is defined within formal grading frameworks, this letter grade reference guide is useful context.
A C− corresponds to a percentage of 70–72%. A 70% is the lowest score that earns a C−, and 72% is the highest before the grade becomes a straight C (73%). A 69% falls into the D+ range (1.3 points), making the 69% to 70% boundary worth 0.4 GPA points per course — one of the larger single-point jumps on the grading scale.
A 72% is a C− on the standard U.S. grading scale, which covers 70–72%. It earns 1.7 grade points. A 73% crosses into the straight C range (2.0 points). That single percentage point — 72% to 73% — is worth 0.3 GPA points per course, making it one of the most targeted grade improvements for students hovering at the C−/C boundary.
A C− is passing at the individual course level — you earn credit for the course and do not fail. However, a C− grade (1.7 points) pulls your cumulative GPA below 2.0 if it becomes your average, which means academic probation at most colleges. Some programs also have minimum grade requirements of C or higher for specific courses — in those cases, a C− may not satisfy the prerequisite even though it technically passes.
A C earns 2.0 grade points and a C− earns 1.7 grade points — a difference of 0.3 points per course. More importantly, a C average (2.0) sits exactly at the institutional minimum for academic good standing, while a C− average (1.7) falls below it. This means the difference between a C and C− is not just 0.3 GPA points — it is the difference between being in good standing and being in academic probation territory.