CampusGrader Scoring Standards

How Approved College Reviews Become Public Grades

CampusGrader converts approved student ratings into category averages, an overall star rating and a clear letter grade. The formula, grade boundaries and review-count rules are published openly on this page.

See the Grade Formula Browse College Profiles Review Guidelines
Approved Reviews Only Pending and rejected submissions remain outside public calculations.
Published Calculation Method The same formula and grade scale apply across college profiles.
No Paid Grade Changes Colleges cannot purchase higher ratings, grades or rankings.
The CampusGrader system

A Grade Is More Useful When the Method Is Visible

CampusGrader shows the approved star average, letter grade and approved review count together so visitors can understand both the result and the amount of review coverage supporting it.

What reviewers submit

Reviewers Rate the Main Parts of College Life

The review system collects ratings for Academics, Housing, Dining, Campus Safety, Student Support, Cost & Value, Campus Life and Career Support.

CampusGrader combines Housing and Dining into one public category. Campus Safety and Student Support are combined into Safety & Support. The result is the six-category public structure used throughout the platform.

Reviewers do not choose their own letter grade. The platform calculates the grade after the approved star averages are produced.

The exact calculation

How CampusGrader Calculates the Overall College Rating

The calculation happens in stages so the public categories and overall result remain consistent across college profiles, rankings and comparisons.

Stage 1

Validate the Submitted Ratings

A rating must be numeric and fall between 1 and 5 to enter the calculation. Empty or invalid values are excluded.

Stage 2

Create the Six Public Categories

Housing and Dining are averaged together. Campus Safety and Student Support are averaged together. The other four category ratings remain direct.

Stage 3

Calculate Each Review’s Overall Score

The valid public category values for that approved review are averaged with equal weight.

Stage 4

Calculate the College Average

The overall scores from all approved reviews for the college are averaged to produce the public overall rating.

Overall college rating

Average of the individual overall scores from approved reviews. Each individual overall score is the equal-weight average of its valid six public category values.

Six public categories

How the Submitted Rating Fields Become Public Categories

Each category result is calculated from approved reviews containing a valid rating for that category.

AC

Academics

Uses the approved Academics rating submitted with the review.

Direct category rating
HD

Housing & Dining

Uses the equal average of the valid Housing and Dining ratings submitted with the review.

Housing + Dining, equally averaged
SS

Safety & Support

Uses the equal average of the valid Campus Safety and Student Support ratings.

Campus Safety + Student Support, equally averaged
CV

Cost & Value

Uses the approved Cost & Value rating submitted with the review.

Direct category rating
CL

Campus Life

Uses the approved Campus Life rating submitted with the review.

Direct category rating
CS

Career Support

Uses the approved Career Support rating submitted with the review.

Direct category rating
Published grade scale

How Approved Star Averages Convert Into Letter Grades

CampusGrader assigns the letter grade from the calculated approved average using the following ranges.

A

Excellent

4.50–5.00

The approved average falls within the highest CampusGrader range.

B

Strong

3.50–4.49

The approved average indicates a generally strong experience.

C

Mixed

2.50–3.49

The approved average reflects a more mixed range of experiences.

D

Below Average

1.50–2.49

The approved average falls below the middle grade range.

F

Poor

0.00–1.49

The approved average falls within the lowest grade range.

Grade boundaries

Small Decimal Differences Can Change the Letter Grade

The grade boundaries are applied exactly at the published cutoff points.

4.49 = B

An approved average below 4.50 remains within the B range.

4.50 = A

An approved average reaching 4.50 enters the A range.

3.49 = C

An approved average below 3.50 remains within the C range.

3.50 = B

An approved average reaching 3.50 enters the B range.

1.49 = F

An approved average below 1.50 remains within the F range.

1.50 = D

An approved average reaching 1.50 enters the D range.

Rounding and precision

How CampusGrader Handles Decimal Averages

Calculation precision and display formatting can affect how close a rating appears to a grade boundary.

Calculations Are Rounded to Two Decimal Places

Valid ratings are processed on the five-star scale. Combined categories, individual review averages and college averages are calculated to two decimal places.

The letter grade is assigned from the calculated two-decimal approved average. A page component may visually shorten the number, but that shortened display should not replace the approved value used for the grade.

The approved-review rule

Pending Reviews Never Affect Public College Results

A submitted review remains outside all public calculations until its review status is approved. This rule applies to college profiles, category averages, rankings, comparisons, letter grades and approved review counts.

Pending means excluded The submission does not change any public star average, grade or count.
Approval makes the score eligible Its valid ratings may enter the appropriate public averages and approved counts.
Rejection leaves results unchanged A rejected submission is not included in public calculations.
Removal triggers recalculation A removed approved review should no longer contribute to public results.
Coverage and missing ratings

What Happens With No Reviews or Missing Category Values

CampusGrader distinguishes between a low rating and the absence of approved rating data.

No approved reviews

Not Yet Rated

A college without an approved overall review score should appear as Not Yet Rated. It should not receive a zero rating or an F grade merely because no approved review data exists.

Missing category value

Invalid Values Are Excluded

Empty, nonnumeric or out-of-range category values do not enter that category’s average. The category count reflects approved reviews containing a valid value for that category.

Limited coverage

A Grade May Precede a Rank

An approved review can produce public rating data, but a numbered ranking requires at least three approved reviews in the selected ranking category.

Grades and rankings

A Letter Grade Is Not the Same as a Ranking Position

Grades summarize approved ratings. Rankings compare qualifying colleges using additional review-coverage and confidence standards.

College grade

The Grade Comes From the Approved Average

A college’s public letter grade is assigned from its approved overall or category average using the published A-through-F scale.

The rating display should also show the approved review count so visitors can understand the amount of coverage supporting it.

Ranking position

A Numbered Rank Requires More Review Coverage

CampusGrader numbered rankings require at least three approved reviews in the selected overall or category ranking.

Colleges below that threshold may appear in the Building Review Coverage section without receiving a numbered position.

How to interpret the result

Use the Grade as a Starting Point, Not the Entire Decision

A grade summarizes approved experiences but should be reviewed with category results, review counts, written feedback and current institutional information.

Check the Approved Count

A grade supported by more approved reviews has broader coverage than one supported by a small number of submissions.

Review All Six Categories

Similar overall grades can hide meaningful differences in academics, housing, safety, value, campus life or career support.

Read Written Experiences

Written reviews can explain circumstances that a numeric average cannot fully communicate.

Consider the Review Dates

College programs, leadership, housing, prices and support services can change over time.

Compare Consistently

Use the same grade scale and category definitions when reviewing several colleges.

Confirm Important Facts

Verify current tuition, accreditation, programs, admissions and policies directly with the institution.

Frequently asked questions

Questions About CampusGrader Grades

What determines a college’s overall rating?
Each approved review receives an individual overall score based on the equal average of its valid six public category values. The college’s overall rating is the average of those approved individual overall scores.
Are all six public categories equally weighted?
Yes. The valid public category values within an approved review are averaged with equal weight when calculating that review’s overall score. Housing and Dining are first combined equally, and Campus Safety and Student Support are first combined equally.
What determines the letter grade?
The letter grade is assigned from the calculated approved average. Averages from 4.50 to 5.00 receive an A, 3.50 to 4.49 receive a B, 2.50 to 3.49 receive a C, 1.50 to 2.49 receive a D, and 0.00 to 1.49 receive an F.
How are decimal averages rounded?
Combined category values, individual review averages and college averages are calculated to two decimal places. The grade is assigned from that calculated approved value.
What happens when a category rating is missing?
Empty, nonnumeric and out-of-range values are excluded. A category average and its approved review count use only approved reviews containing a valid value for that category.
Do pending reviews affect the grade?
No. Pending reviews remain outside all public calculations and do not affect star ratings, letter grades, category averages, rankings, comparisons or approved review counts.
What appears when a college has no approved reviews?
The college should appear as Not Yet Rated. The absence of approved data should not be presented as a zero score or an F grade.
Why can a college have a grade but no numbered ranking?
An approved review can produce public rating data, but a numbered CampusGrader ranking requires at least three approved reviews in the selected overall or category ranking.
Can a college pay for a higher grade?
No. Colleges cannot purchase higher ratings, letter grades or ranking positions. Advertising, sponsorships and commercial relationships do not alter approved-review calculations.
Can a college grade change over time?
Yes. Grades may change when new reviews are approved, approved reviews are removed or the underlying approved category and overall averages change.
Effective and last updated: June 2026

CampusGrader may revise this methodology as the platform develops. Material calculation or eligibility changes will be reflected on this page. The current published methodology governs active public ratings and grades.

See the system in action

Browse College Profiles or Add Your Own Experience

Review approved star ratings, letter grades and category results, or submit a thoughtful college review for moderation.

Browse College Profiles Submit a College Review

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