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Grade Information

California Western operates on a 4.33-grade point average system. This page provides information on grade scales, academic ranking, access to grades and more. Additional grading information can be found in the Student Handbook.

Grading System

CWSL operates on a letter grading system ranging from “A+” through “F” on a 4.33 GPA system. You can find additional information on the grading scale in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the Student Handbook.

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Academic Excellence

The Registrar will designate students receiving the Academic Excellence Award at the end of each trimester. The Registrar will designate the student with the highest numeric grade in that course based on the framework provided in Academic Policy 6.02.  If two or more students receive the same numeric grade in a course, all students with that grade will receive the Academic Excellence Award notation on their transcript.

Class Rankings

First-year students


First-year students do not receive a ranking at the end of the first trimester.  Full-time, first-year students will be ranked after finishing their first year (two trimesters). Part-time, first-year students are ranked after the completion of their third trimester, or after completing 27 units.

The following, which is from the First Trimester Performance Memo, can be helpful for students to judge their relative performance after the first trimester.

  • Top Five Percent: 3.81 and above
  • Top Ten Percent: 3.55 and above
  • Top Quarter: 3.12 and above
  • Top Half: 2.78 and above
  • Bottom Quarter: 2.31 and below

Upper-division student 

Upper-class students are ranked by class year based on Academic Policy 6.07 in the Student Handbook. Rankings are based on cumulative grade point average after grades are reported at the end of each trimester. Students receive a new ranking only if they have completed courses and received numerical grades for the trimester. 
  

Academic Honors

Graduation Academic Honors 

  • Summa Cum Laude: awarded to the student whose cumulative grade point average is the highest in the graduating class.
  • Magna Cum Laude: awarded to graduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.56 or higher.
  • Cum Laude: awarded to graduates with a cumulative grade point average from 3.33 to 3.55.

Dean's List

Awarded to upper-class students with 12 or more units in a trimester who received a grade (or Honors designation in an Independent Study) for 10 or more of such units, and whose session grade point average for that trimester is at least 3.33. First-year students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.33 at the end of their first year may also receive this academic recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions about the CWSL Grade Curve 

See the Grade Curve FAQ for common questions about the CWSL grade curve. You will need to log in to access this document. 

Holds


If the Business Office or Financial Aid Office has placed a hold on your account, you will not be able to access your grades. After you log in, a message will appear advising you of the hold and which office to contact. Students must contact those offices directly for clearance.