The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and Arts (LSA) announced it will replace final letter grades with a pass/no credit system for all first-semester freshmen beginning in fall 2027. The change, detailed on the college's website, means that first-year LSA students will see only pass or no credit on their initial transcripts, although instructors will still provide letter grades and feedback internally.
Administrators say the policy is designed to help newcomers "establish early momentum" and address the "mental health crisis unfolding" on college campuses. The announcement emphasizes that the goal is to allow students to acclimate to academic demands and follow intrinsic motivations without the fear of a low grade derailing their long-term plans. For instance, students might explore a challenging subject or try a new field without worrying about the consequences of a poor mark.
The move comes amid improving but still concerning mental health trends. The 2024-25 Healthy Minds Study, administered by the Healthy Minds Network at Michigan, found that 18% of college students reported severe depression symptoms—marking the third consecutive year of decline. Justin Heinze, an associate professor at the university's School of Public Health, called the reductions "not a blip," adding, "Whether it's distance from the pandemic, better institutional support, or something else driving the change, I think this is a promising counternarrative to what seems like constant headlines around young people's struggles with mental health."
All first-year LSA students will be automatically enrolled in the program. The college rejected an opt-in model, arguing that it would "defeat the purpose of facilitating students' transition to campus" and supporting their mental health. "If covered grades are optional, covering an individual's grades will inadvertently become equated with them not doing well in a class," the announcement stated.
Transfer students will not be eligible. However, the university will maintain final grades internally for purposes such as athletic eligibility, compliance reporting, and financial aid determinations. The LSA college is Michigan's largest, with 19,733 undergraduates and 3,521 freshmen as of fall 2025, out of roughly 35,300 total undergraduates. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university as the third-best public institution in the country.
Michigan is not alone in this approach. Since 1968, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has used pass/no credit for freshman fall and letter grades in the spring. Other institutions have experimented with similar policies to reduce academic pressure.
The policy has drawn attention in the context of broader debates about academic rigor and student well-being. Some educators argue that pass/no credit can reduce anxiety and encourage exploration, while critics worry it may diminish accountability or fail to prepare students for the competitive grading they'll face later. Michigan's decision to make it mandatory for all first-semester students reflects a firm stance in favor of easing the transition.
As the university implements this change over the next two years, it will monitor outcomes and adjust as needed. The move aligns with a growing trend among selective universities to reconsider traditional grading practices in the name of mental health and student success.
