The short answer
Usually, yes. At many US colleges and high schools, a D is the lowest passing grade, so you earn credit for the class. But “passing” and “good enough” aren’t the same thing. Courses for your major, prerequisites, general education, transfer credit and University of California admission courses often need a C or better, so a D may not count there. Your school’s catalog or handbook has the final word.
What is a passing grade?
There is no single national grading scale in the US. Each school, and sometimes each instructor, decides the percentage cutoffs, whether plus and minus grades exist, and how many grade points each letter is worth. The table below is a common example, not a universal standard.
Schools that use plus and minus grades split each range further. There, a C− (often 1.7 points) usually earns credit but often doesn’t meet a “C or better” rule, and a D− (often 0.7 points) is the lowest passing grade at many schools.
| Letter | Example percentage | Example grade points | Usually earns credit? | Meets a “C or better” rule? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | 4.0 | Yes | Yes |
| B | 80–89% | 3.0 | Yes | Yes |
| C | 70–79% | 2.0 | Yes | Yes |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 | Usually | No |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 | No | No |
Some schools describe a D in plain words. Central Texas College’s catalog, for example, labels it “passing but unsatisfactory”: you pass, but the grade signals a problem. That gap between passing and meeting a requirement is what the rest of this guide is about.
Is a D passing in college?
Credit toward your degree
A D usually earns credit, so the class counts toward the total credits you need to graduate. At UC Santa Cruz, for example, any grade of D− or higher earns credit toward the university’s 180-credit graduation requirement.
Major, general education and prerequisite courses
This is where a D often stops counting. The same UC Santa Cruz rules say general education, major and prerequisite courses need a C (2.0) or higher, and a C− or lower doesn’t satisfy them. At Central Texas College, a D isn’t accepted toward graduation for major courses in its associate degree and certificate programs (2023–2024 catalog). The college also advises students who get a D in a prerequisite to earn at least a C in it before taking the next course.
So you can pass a class and still have to retake it. A D in Calculus I might count toward your total credits but still block you from Calculus II, or fail to count for an engineering major.
Transfer credit
If you plan to change schools, a D is even less likely to help. Many colleges only accept transfer credit for a C or better. Pace University, for example, gives transfer credit only for courses where “a grade of C or better was earned,” and a C− doesn’t transfer. The school you’re moving to sets the rule, so check its transfer policy, not your current school’s.
Pass/fail classes
If you take a class pass/fail (sometimes called pass/no pass), your school decides the lowest grade that counts as a Pass, and it isn’t always a D. A Pass usually earns credit without changing your GPA, but schools often limit how many pass/fail classes you can take and whether they count for major or general education requirements. A Pass may also transfer only if it equals a C or better. Pace University, for example, accepts a P from another school only when that school’s scale shows it’s worth at least a C (2.0).
Financial aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress
To keep federal student aid (such as Pell Grants and federal student loans), you have to meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. Federal rules (34 CFR 668.34) set the framework, and each school writes its own policy within it. The policy must include:
- A GPA standard. For programs longer than two academic years, students must have at least a C average (or its equivalent), or academic standing that meets the school’s graduation requirements, by the end of their second academic year. Schools may set their own GPA checkpoints, and some are stricter than the federal minimum.
- A pace standard and a maximum timeframe. You need to complete enough of the credits you attempt to stay on track to finish in time. For undergraduate programs measured in credit hours, the maximum timeframe is no more than 150% of the program’s published length.
- Regular reviews. Schools check SAP at the end of each payment period or at least once a year, depending on the program and the school.
One D doesn’t automatically affect your aid. What matters is whether your overall GPA and your pace meet your school’s standards when it reviews them. A passed class, including a D, normally counts toward completed credits. In the GPA example below, a student with one D still has a 2.60 GPA, comfortably above a C average. Several low grades, failed classes or withdrawals are what usually cause problems.
If you do fall below the standard, many schools have a process before aid is lost, such as a financial aid warning period, an appeal or an academic plan. The details depend on your school’s policy. State grants, scholarships and athletic eligibility have their own rules, so check each one separately. Your school’s academic standing rules, such as academic probation, are also a separate policy from financial aid SAP.
Not sure where you stand? Your school’s financial aid office can tell you its exact SAP standards and when it reviews them.
Graduate programs often set higher minimums than undergraduate ones, so graduate students should check their program handbook rather than the general undergraduate rules.
Is a D passing in high school?
In many US high schools that use letter grades, a D is a passing grade. North Carolina’s state grading standard is one example: 60–69 is a D, worth 1.0 quality point, and the policy gives quality points for passing grades. But districts and states set their own scales and graduation rules, so the passing mark may be different at your school.
The bigger issue is college admission. The University of California requires its 15 “A–G” high school courses to be completed with a letter grade of C or better. So a D in one of those courses doesn’t meet the requirement, even though it may count toward your diploma. Some high schools let students retake the course, and UC has its own rules for repeated courses. Your counselor can tell you how your school handles D grades for graduation and for college-preparatory courses. The high school GPA calculator shows what a D does to your weighted and unweighted GPA.
How a D affects your GPA (worked example)
Here’s one semester with five 3-credit classes, using the example grade points above (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0):
| Class | Grade | Grade points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12 |
| English | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9 |
| History | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9 |
| Psychology | C | 2.0 | 3 | 6 |
| Statistics | D | 1.0 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 15 | 39 |
GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits = 39 ÷ 15 = 2.60
Now compare three versions of the same semester:
- With the D in Statistics: 39 ÷ 15 = 2.60
- With a C instead: (39 − 3 + 6) ÷ 15 = 42 ÷ 15 = 2.80
- After retaking Statistics and earning a B: (39 − 3 + 9) ÷ 15 = 45 ÷ 15 = 3.00
The 3.00 assumes your school uses grade replacement: the new B replaces the D, and the old grade no longer counts in your GPA. Retake policies vary a lot. Some schools replace the old grade, some average the two grades, some count both, and many limit which classes or how many times you can retake. If your school counts both attempts, the retake adds 3 more credits and 9 more quality points instead, giving 48 ÷ 18 = 2.67.
In this example, one D costs 0.20 GPA points compared with a C. The effect is bigger for a 4- or 5-credit class and smaller once you’ve completed many credits. To try your own numbers, use the GPA calculator, or the cumulative GPA calculator to see how a retake changes your overall GPA.
D vs. D− vs. F
On many plus-and-minus scales, a D− is worth 0.7 points instead of 1.0, but it usually still earns credit. An F is worth 0 points and earns no credit at all, so you’d have to retake the class to get credit for it.
In short:
- D vs. F decides whether you get credit.
- D vs. C often decides whether the class counts for requirements: your major, prerequisites, transfer or admission.
Got a D, or close to one? What to do next
- Before the term ends, find out what you need. Use the grade calculator to check your current grade, then the final grade calculator to see what score on the final would get you to a C.
- Check what the class is for. If it’s a prerequisite or a major requirement, a D may mean retaking it even though you passed.
- Read your school’s retake policy. Look for whether a retake replaces the old grade, averages it or counts both, and whether there are limits.
- Talk to an advisor if a threshold is close. If your GPA is near your school’s SAP standard, a scholarship minimum or an eligibility rule, your advisor or financial aid office can explain your options.
- Plan your recovery. Strong grades in your next high-credit classes move your GPA the most. See how to raise your GPA for the math.
How to find your school’s passing grade
These rules vary by school. Here’s where to find yours:
- Academic catalog or bulletin: search for “grading policy” or “grading system” to find which grades earn credit.
- Your major or program requirements: look for a minimum grade in major, general education or prerequisite courses.
- The course syllabus: shows your instructor’s percentage cutoffs for each letter grade.
- Transfer credit policy at the school you plan to transfer to: look for the minimum grade it accepts.
- Financial aid SAP policy: lists the GPA and pace standards and when they’re checked.
- High school student handbook or counselor: covers grading scales, graduation credit and college-prep requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is a D− a passing grade?
At many schools, yes. A D− usually earns credit, often at 0.7 grade points. UC Santa Cruz, for example, gives credit for D− or higher. Like a D, it rarely meets “C or better” requirements, and some schools don’t use a D− at all.
Is a 65 a passing grade?
On a scale where 60–69 is a D, such as North Carolina’s state high school scale, a 65 is a D, which is usually a passing grade. But some schools and instructors use different cutoffs, so check your syllabus or your school’s grading scale.
Is a D a failing grade?
Usually not. At most US colleges and high schools that use letter grades, F is the failing grade and a D is the lowest passing grade, so it earns credit. A D can still fail a requirement, though, when your major, a prerequisite or transfer credit needs a C or better.
Is a D+ passing?
Yes. Wherever a D is passing, a D+ is too. It’s usually worth 1.3 grade points on a 4.0 scale, but it still falls short of “C or better” requirements.
How many credits do you get for a D?
Usually the class’s full credits. A D in a 3-credit class typically earns all 3 credits toward graduation, but it adds only 1.0 grade point per credit to your GPA.
Is a D passing in California?
At UC Santa Cruz, a D− or better earns college credit, but general education, major and prerequisite courses need a C or better. For University of California admission, high school “A–G” courses must be completed with a C or better, so a D there doesn’t meet the requirement.
Does a D count for a prerequisite?
Often not. Many colleges require a C or better in a prerequisite before you can take the next course. UC Santa Cruz is one example. Check the course description or your program requirements.
Will a D transfer to another college?
Usually not. Many colleges only accept transfer credit for a C or better, and some don’t accept a C−. The college you’re transferring to decides, so check its transfer credit policy.
Should I retake a class I got a D in?
It’s worth considering if the class is a prerequisite or major requirement, if you plan to transfer, or if your school replaces the old grade in your GPA. Check the retake policy first, because some schools count both attempts or limit retakes.
Sources
- UC Santa Cruz General Catalog: Graduation requirements (180 credits; D− or better earns credit; C or better for general education; checked 8 November 2026).
- UC Santa Cruz General Catalog: Evaluating academic performance (C− through D− earn credit but can’t satisfy major, general education or prerequisite requirements; checked 8 November 2026).
- Central Texas College catalog 2023–2024: “D” – Passing but Unsatisfactory (checked 5 November 2026).
- Pace University: Grade requirements for transfer credits (checked 5 November 2026).
- 34 CFR 668.34, Satisfactory academic progress (Cornell Legal Information Institute) (federal SAP requirements; checked 5 November 2026).
- University of California Admissions: Subject requirement (A–G) (checked 5 November 2026).
- North Carolina State Board of Education policy GRAD-009: Grading and transcript standards (high school grading scale; checked 5 November 2026).