D+ GPA
A D+ letter grade equals a 1.3 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale and a percentage of 67–69%. It is the second-lowest passing grade — barely above a straight D and well below the 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 |
| D+ | 67-69% | 1.3 ← You Are Here |
| D | 65-66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65% | 0.0 |
What Is a D+ Grade?
A D+ is the tenth letter grade in the U.S. grading system, sitting between a C− (1.7) and a straight D (1.0). It represents a score of 67–69% and earns 1.3 grade points on the standard 4.0 scale. A D+ is one of the lowest passing grades available — you earn credit for the course, but the GPA contribution is so low that consistent D+ grades will push a cumulative GPA well below the 2.0 institutional minimum. A D+ average across all courses produces a 1.3 GPA, which is 0.7 points below the academic probation threshold at most colleges.
Is a D+ a Good Grade?
A D+ is not a good grade. It is one step above the lowest possible passing grade on the standard scale and sits 1.7 points below the national average of 3.0. In practical terms, a D+ earns credit but does serious damage to a cumulative GPA. Most academic programs also do not count D-range grades toward major requirements — meaning you may pass the course officially but still need to retake it to satisfy your degree. For a student with D+ grades, the most important actions are identifying specifically which courses and habits are producing the low grades, and making immediate, concrete changes before more credits accumulate at the same average.
D+ Grade for High School Students
In high school, a D+ average produces a 1.3 GPA — well below the national average and below the admission minimum for virtually every four-year college. Most universities require at least a 2.5 GPA, and a 1.3 falls significantly short. For high school students at this level, the priority is graduating and securing a diploma. After that, community college with strong academic performance is the most reliable pathway to a four-year degree — two semesters of B or higher grades at community college completely reframes the academic record and opens transfer doors that a 1.3 high school GPA could not.
D+ Grade for College Students
In college, a D+ grade (1.3 points) is a serious academic warning. A consistent D+ average will pull any cumulative GPA below the 2.0 good standing floor within one or two semesters, triggering academic probation and putting financial aid eligibility at risk. Most degree programs also require grades of C or higher in core and major courses — a D+ passes the university’s minimum but fails the program requirement, meaning the course must be repeated. Retaking a D+ course and earning a C or better is one of the fastest ways to improve both the GPA and the degree pathway simultaneously.
Is a D+ a Passing Grade?
At the university level, a D+ technically passes the course and earns credit hours toward your total. However, whether a D+ satisfies specific program requirements is a separate question. Many departments require a minimum grade of C for courses that count toward the major, prerequisites, or graduation requirements. A D+ in one of those courses means the credit counts toward total hours but the course requirement is not fulfilled — you would need to retake it. Always check your program’s minimum grade policy for required courses before assuming a D+ is sufficient.
Frequently Asked Questions — D+ Grade
A D+ earns 1.3 grade points on the standard 4.0 GPA scale. A student with all D+ grades in equal-credit courses will have a cumulative GPA of 1.3 — significantly below the 2.0 minimum required for academic good standing. For a formal reference on how D+ and other letter grades are defined in academic grading policies, this grade and transcript guide is a helpful reference.
A D+ corresponds to a percentage of 67–69%. A 67% is the lowest score that earns a D+, and 69% is the highest before the grade becomes a C− (70%). A 66% falls into the straight D range (1.0 points), making the 66% to 67% boundary worth 0.3 GPA points per course.
A D+ technically passes at the university credit level — you earn the credit hours. However, most academic programs require a minimum grade of C for courses that count toward major requirements or prerequisites. A D+ in those courses means the course must be retaken even though credit was technically awarded. Always verify your program’s minimum grade policy for required courses.
Yes — a D+ is a very low grade. It earns only 1.3 grade points, sits 1.7 points below the national average, and will push a cumulative GPA below the 2.0 academic probation threshold if it becomes your average. It also often does not satisfy program minimum grade requirements. The most constructive response to a D+ is to treat it as a signal for immediate, specific action — not a gradual adjustment.
A D+ earns 1.3 grade points and a C− earns 1.7 grade points — a difference of 0.4 points per course. More practically, a C− is still in the C letter grade family and may satisfy program prerequisites that require a C-range grade, while a D+ does not. The jump from D+ to C− requires moving from 67–69% to 70–72% — just a few percentage points that make a meaningful difference in both GPA and degree progress.