High school grades are climbing—but not always for the right reasons. From 2010 to 2021, the average GPA increased from 3.17 to 3.36, a notable rise over just over a decade. By 2022, nearly 90% of students were earning A's or B's in their core subjects. But all this grade inflation is making it harder for colleges to tell which students are truly ready for college-level work.

What Is Grade Inflation?

Grade inflation happens when students receive higher grades than their performance objectively warrants. This may result from schools trying to boost student confidence, meet parent expectations, or adjust for pandemic-related disruptions. Some examples: schools letting students turn in missing work for full credit at the end of marking periods and redoing graded work for higher scores, plus less intensive writing assignments and requiring few, if any, long papers.

The result? More students with top GPAs, but not necessarily stronger academic skills.

How It Affects College Admissions

With so many applicants earning high grades, GPA alone no longer tells the whole story. Admissions offices are having to look deeper:

• Course rigor is under the microscope. Colleges want to know if students challenged themselves with AP, IB, honors, or dual-enrollment classes.
• Essays and letters of recommendation are more important than ever to understand a student's character, motivation, and growth.
• Extracurricular involvement helps colleges see who a student is beyond academics—what they value and how they engage with the world.

The Return of Standardized Testing

The rise in grade inflation is also prompting some colleges to reinstate standardized testing requirements, especially at the most selective levels. After a wave of test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, several institutions are now reconsidering, making the argument that standardized tests offer a consistent benchmark that helps colleges compare students across different schools, districts, and grading standards. As GPAs become less reliable as a measure of academic ability, tests like the SAT and ACT are being viewed by some as a necessary component of the admissions puzzle once again.

What Students Can Do

In this new landscape, students who want to stand out should:

• Take the most challenging courses available and do well in them.
• Build a strong narrative through essays, recommendations, and activities.
• Prepare for standardized tests, especially if applying to schools that require or recommend them.
• Get involved in activities that reflect authentic interests and leadership.