F GPA
An F letter grade equals a 0.0 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale and a percentage of below 65%. It is a failing grade — the lowest possible result and the only grade that earns zero credit hours.
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 |
| D | 65-66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65% | 0.0 ← You Are Here |
What Is an F Grade?
An F is the lowest letter grade in the U.S. grading system. It represents a score below 65% and earns 0.0 grade points on the standard 4.0 scale. An F is a failing grade — it earns no credit hours, does not satisfy any course requirement, and contributes 0.0 to your GPA calculation while still being factored into your cumulative average as a completed attempt. This last point is critical: an F does not simply disappear from your record. It stays in your GPA calculation and drags the average down, often significantly, because the course counts as completed credit hours at 0.0 grade points.
What Percentage Is an F?
An F corresponds to any score below 65% on the standard U.S. grading scale. There is no upper boundary — any score from 0% to 64% typically earns an F. Some schools set the F threshold at below 60% rather than 65%, so the exact cutoff can vary by institution. A 64% is typically an F at schools where the D range begins at 65%, and a 65% is the lowest score that earns a passing D. This single percentage point — 64% to 65% — is the most consequential grade boundary in the entire system.
How Much Does an F Drop Your GPA?
An F earns 0.0 grade points, which means it adds credit hours to your denominator without adding any points to your numerator. The GPA impact depends on how many credits the failed course carries and what your current cumulative GPA is. The higher your current GPA, the more dramatic the drop. A student with a 4.0 GPA who fails one 3-credit course will see their GPA drop significantly more in percentage terms than a student with a 2.5 who fails the same course. In all cases, an F is the single most damaging grade event a GPA can absorb, because it adds weight without adding value.
| Current GPA | Credits at that GPA | F in a 3-Credit Course | New GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 30 credits | 0.0 on 3 credits | ~3.64 |
| 3.5 | 30 credits | 0.0 on 3 credits | ~3.17 |
| 3.0 | 30 credits | 0.0 on 3 credits | ~2.73 |
| 2.5 | 30 credits | 0.0 on 3 credits | ~2.27 |
| 2.0 | 30 credits | 0.0 on 3 credits | ~1.82 |
Does an F Stay on Your GPA?
Yes — an F stays in your cumulative GPA calculation unless your school has a formal grade replacement or course forgiveness policy. At most institutions, retaking a failed course and earning a passing grade does not remove the F from your transcript — both grades appear. However, many schools use grade replacement for GPA calculation purposes, meaning only the new grade counts toward the cumulative GPA while the F remains visible on the transcript. Always check your institution’s specific grade replacement policy before assuming your F will be overwritten.
F Grade and Academic Consequences
An F grade triggers a cascade of consequences beyond just the GPA hit. First, the course must be repeated to earn credit and satisfy any program requirement — the failed attempt counts as an enrollment but earns nothing toward your degree. Second, if a failed course was a prerequisite, you cannot advance to the next course in the sequence until you retake and pass it. Third, one or more F grades will drop your cumulative GPA toward the 2.0 academic good standing threshold, and possibly below it into probation territory. Fourth, federal financial aid requires maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which includes both a minimum GPA and a minimum course completion rate — failing courses affects both simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions — F Grade
An F earns 0.0 grade points on the standard 4.0 GPA scale. It is the only letter grade that contributes zero points while still counting as a completed course attempt in your GPA calculation. For a reference on how F grades are formally defined and applied in academic policy, this F letter grade policy document provides detailed academic context.
An F corresponds to any score below 65% on the standard U.S. grading scale. Some schools set the threshold at below 60%. There is no fixed lower boundary — any score from 0% to the institution’s F cutoff earns a failing grade. A 64% is typically an F at schools where the D range starts at 65%.
The drop depends on your current GPA and credit count. A student with a 4.0 GPA and 30 credits who fails a 3-credit course will drop to approximately 3.64. A student at 3.0 with 30 credits will drop to approximately 2.73. The higher your starting GPA and the fewer total credits you have completed, the larger the single-course impact. Use our College GPA Calculator to see your specific numbers based on your actual credit count and current average.
It depends on your school’s grade replacement policy. At schools with grade replacement, only the new grade counts toward your cumulative GPA calculation, but the F remains visible on your transcript. At schools without grade replacement, both the F and the new grade factor into your GPA. Always verify your institution’s specific policy with your registrar before retaking a course with GPA recovery as the goal.
At most U.S. institutions, yes — a 64% is an F because the D range begins at 65%. However, some schools set their F threshold at below 60%, in which case a 64% would earn a D− rather than an F. The exact cutoff varies by institution, so always confirm your school’s grading scale if you are hovering near the passing threshold. A 65% is typically the lowest score that avoids an F on the standard scale.
No — there is no F− on the standard U.S. letter grade scale. An F is the final grade category, covering all scores below the passing threshold regardless of how low the actual percentage is. A 10% and a 64% both earn an F and both contribute 0.0 grade points. The F grade has no plus or minus variation on the standard scale.