The numbers tell the grim tale of a college grading system that is broken. In 1950, the average GPA at Harvard was an estimated 2.6 out of 4. By 2003, it had risen to 3.4. Today, it stands at 3.8. The more elite the college, the more lenient the standards, but the problem is also prevalent at less selective colleges. Across all four-year colleges in the United States, the most commonly grade awarded is now an A.
This grade inflation has made the A lose its significance as the highest achievement. The roots of the problem are manifold. High tuition has led universities to treat their charges as customers instead of students, and students (and their parents) like seeing As. To add to the situation, some academics loathe assessment and grading, preferring instead to focus on teaching. They say they do not want to participate in a broken system that uses grades as a measure helping nonacademics eliminate graduates from fellowships, graduate programs, and high-paying jobs.
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