last updated December 2011
| Grade | Significance for Computer Science students | Official Cornell interpretation | |
| A+ |
Satisfies all relevant requirements. |
Excellent to Very Good |
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of subject matter; marked perception or originality |
| A | |||
| A− |
Lowest generally acceptable grade for an undergraduate course to
satisfy the
PhD area competency requirement. | ||
| B+ |
Lowest generally acceptable course grade for a graduate course to satisfy the PhD area competency requirement in the area. |
Good | Moderately broad knowledge and understanding; noticeable perception or originality |
| B |
The lowest generally acceptable grade for a course to satisfy the PhD breadth requirement. The minimum grade for courses used to satisfy the MEng project requirement. |
||
| B− |
Minimum grade for Ph.D. students to receive credit for taking any course, including satisfying the Ph.D. project requirement. Minimum average grade (2.5) in critical courses required
for
affiliation in undergraduate CS major. Minimum average grade (2.5) in CS core and electives courses required for an undergraduate to remain in good standing. |
||
| C+ |
Minimum average grade (2.3) in all courses taken during a semester for an undergraduate to remain in good standing. A GPA of 2.5 is required in order to stay in the CS MEng program. |
Satisfactory | Reasonable knowledge and understanding; some perception or originality |
| C |
Minimum grade in critical courses required for affiliation in the undergraduate CS major . |
||
| C− |
Minimum grade for undergraduate students to satisfy the CS elective, technical elective, math elective, and specialization requirements. Minimum grade for MEng students to receive credit for any course. Minimum satisfactory grade in the S/U grading option. Minimum grade to satisfy a prerequisite requirement. |
||
| D+ to D− |
An unsatisfactory grade in the S/U system, but sufficient for undergraduates to satisfy some requirements of the CS major (e.g., liberal studies and arts). Course cannot satisfy a prerequisite requirement. |
Marginal | Minimum of knowledge and understanding; limited perception and originality |
(This table was compiled with the assistance of the CS undergraduate advising office.)