Grade Inflation: The Pitfall of Higher Education in America

Kevin Corley

At some point in the history of American education, students who received a mark of an ‘A’, actually earned it. A ‘C’ used to mean average and an ‘A’ was an exceptional mark for only those ranking well above average. However, nowadays, grade inflation has become such a major problem that an ‘A’ has become the new average. How can someone possibly be ranked properly if the highest grade achievable, in some colleges, is the most common grade given out? If the highest grade attainable is so easily given out, what incentive is there to excel? In the 1930’s, the average GPA of colleges in America was approximately 2.35 (www.gradeinflation.com). Since then, the average GPA has been on a constant rise ending up around 3.0-3.3 presently as can seen below.


In my opinion, this is no valid argument as to why such an enormous increase has occurred, except unmerited grade inflation. One might argue that this not a big deal. Perhaps our schools have gotten so good at educating people and the quality of our education system is on a constant rise. Or, perhaps, it is quite the contrary. When ‘A’s are so easily given out, students do not have to try nearly as hard to get good grades and, even worse, they barely have to try to even pass. In an article about grade inflation, Stuart Rojstaczer mentions that “A recent survey of more than 30,000 first year students across the country showed that nearly half were spending more hours drinking than they were studying.” Rojstaczer presents a point that continuing this trend will inevitably lead to having poorly educated student that have spent their four years in college developing an addiction to alcohol instead of enhancing their knowledge and skill sets. I certainly agree with Rojstaczer. If students can spend more time drinking than studying and still get good grades then there is definately a serious issue. Students will only do the amount of work necessary to get by. An increasing GPA year after year is extremely bad and will lead to a system providing students with a terrible education.