Grading
Grading Scale
Chamberlain uses the grading system outlined in the corresponding chart. Grades are posted to the My Chamberlain experience the week following course completion. During student orientation, students are advised of this procedure and instructed how to navigate the My Chamberlain experience to locate their grades.
A student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is based on a 4.0 scale. It is computed by dividing total quality points by the total credit hours for which grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D or F are received.
All courses completed while enrolled in a Chamberlain program are included in this calculation, with the exception of courses with Hold ("H") grade designators. Courses with Hold ("H") grade designators are not counted in attempted or earned credit hours for rate of progress, maximum timeframe or grade point calculations. Transfer credits from academic institutions will be accepted for credit only, and are also not included in the GPA calculation.
Semester GPA is calculated at the end of a semester and represents the GPA for work completed in a given semester only. The semester GPA is used to determine eligibility for Dean's List and Honor Roll. The Cumulative GPA (CGPA) is an average for all work completed while enrolled at Chamberlain. Standards of academic progress, graduation honors and degree conferrals are all determined by a student’s CGPA.
Nursing, Physician Assistant, Science & Health Professions Coursework
Undergraduate
Grade designators of "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory" will be issued for clinical and lab components of an undergraduate course. Students who receive an "Unsatisfactory" grade in the clinical and/or lab component of a course will receive a failing grade for the course. If a final "Unsatisfactory” grade in the clinical or lab component of a nursing course is earned by the withdrawal deadline, the student will be administratively withdrawn and awarded a grade of Unsatisfactory (“U”). If a student withdraws prior to a final clinical or lab grade being determined by the withdrawal deadline, they will be awarded a grade of Withdrawal (“W”). If an "Unsatisfactory" grade in the clinical and/or lab component of a course is determined after the withdrawal deadline, the student will be administratively withdrawn and awarded a grade of Failing (“F”). If a grade below a “C” is earned in any component of a course or a "D" in a science elective course, the student must repeat all components of the course even if the grade of “Satisfactory” was earned in the clinical or lab. All pre-licensure nursing courses require a 76 percent cumulative weighted average on the core assignments before supplemental assignments are calculated into the grade. An average below 76 percent on the core assignments constitutes failure of the course. Extra credit points are not awarded for nursing coursework. The University does not permit any excused or curved graded activity.
Each BSN clinical course has a required medication calculation exam, which students must pass in order to successfully pass each course. Students may not administer medications in the clinical setting prior to passing the medication calculation exam for the course. Passing score criteria is listed in each course. Students have three attempts to achieve the passing score by the end of Week 2 of the session. The score on the first attempt only is worth two percent of the final course grade. Scores obtained on subsequent exams are not used in the calculation of the final grade. A student who does not pass the medication calculation exam on the third attempt by the end of Week 2 of the session will be administratively withdrawn and awarded a grade of Withdrawal ("W").
- 1
Prior to November 2024, students may receive a grade of Withdrawal Failing ("WF") or a Withdrawal ("W").
Graduate
If it is determined by the withdrawal deadline that the student is unsatisfactory in a graduate clinical, practicum, fieldwork and applied practice experience course, the student will be administratively withdrawn and awarded:
- Master of Social Work: a grade of a Withdrawal ("W")1
- Master of Public Health: a grade of a Withdrawal ("W")1
- Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner: a grade of a Withdrawal Failing ("WF")
- Doctor of Nursing Practice: a grade of a Withdrawal Failing ("WF")
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies a grade of a Withdrawal Failing ("WF")
If it is determined after the withdrawal deadline that the student is unsatisfactory in the clinical, practicum, fieldwork or applied practice experience course, the student will be administratively withdrawn and awarded a grade of Failing ("F"). If a grade below a "C" is earned in a course, the student must repeat the course. This policy also applies to MSW-501 Professional Writing. If a grade below a “C“ is earned in a physician assistant course, the student must repeat the course the next time it is offered (see the Resumption of Study section in this academic catalog).
The University does not permit any excused or curved graded activity. Grade designators of A, B, C or F will be issued for graduate clinical courses. If it is determined by the withdrawal deadline that the student is unsatisfactory in a graduate clinical course, the student will be administratively withdrawn and awarded a grade of Withdrawal ("W")1 except in the case of students in the graduate nursing programs (MSN and DNP) or Master of Physician Assistant Studies, in which case a grade of Withdrawal Failing ("WF") will be granted.
- 1
Prior to November 2024, a grade of Withdrawal Failing ("WF") will be awarded.
Competency-Based Education Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100 | 4.00 |
| B | 80-89.9 | 3.00 |
| F | Below 80 | 0.00 |
Nursing1, Science2 and MSW Coursework Grading Scale3
Effective September 2017
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 94-100 | 4.00 |
| A- | 92-93 | 3.75 |
| B+ | 89-91 | 3.25 |
| B | 86-88 | 3.00 |
| B- | 84-85 | 2.75 |
| C+ | 81-83 | 2.25 |
| C | 76-80 | 2.00 |
| F | 0-75 | 0.00 |
- 1
Effective through December 2017 for MSN-FNP students. A new MSN-NP Coursework Grading Scale took effect January 2018.
- 2
Science elective courses follow the General Education Coursework Grading Scale.
- 3
MPH coursework grading scale from September 2017-March 2021.
Master of Physician Assistant Studies Coursework Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 94-100 | 4.00 |
| A- | 90-93 | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.25 |
| B | 84-86 | 3.00 |
| B- | 80-83 | 2.75 |
| C+ | 78-79 | 2.25 |
| C | 76-77 | 2.00 |
| F | 0-75 | 0.00 |
MPH Coursework Grading Scale
Effective May 2021
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93-100 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.25 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.25 |
| C | 73-76 | 20 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.75 |
| F | 0-69 | 0 |
General Education Coursework Grading Scale
Effective September 2017
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100 | 4.00 |
| B | 80-89 | 3.00 |
| C | 70-79 | 2.00 |
| D | 60-69 | 1.00 |
| F | 0-59 | 0.00 |
MSN-NP Coursework Grading Scale
Effective January 2018
| Grade | Percentage | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 94-100 | 4.00 |
| A- | 92-93 | 3.75 |
| B+ | 89-91 | 3.25 |
| B | 86-88 | 3.00 |
| B- | 84-85 | 2.75 |
| C+ | 82-83 | 2.25 |
| C | 80-81 | 2.0 |
| F | 0-79 | 0.0 |