Academic Standards for MS & PhD Students

Columbia Business School’s academic standards ensure the integrity, consistency, and long-term value of the MS and PhD student experience.

Grading Notations

(1) Students are not permitted to have a course deleted from their academic record after the add/drop deadline. If a student withdraws from a course after the drop deadline, the transcript will show a mark of "W" for that course. This is a permanent mark, and will remain on the transcript even if the student repeats the course. This grade will not be factored into your GPA, nor will receive any credits. Students cannot withdraw from a course after the date noted on the Course Match Registration Schedule.

(2) Incomplete (IN) Grades: Incomplete grades are granted or denied at the discretion of course Instructors. If an instructor grants an incomplete for a course, the instructor and student must agree on a date in which the coursework will be completed. Note that students cannot be certified for graduation with a notation of incomplete (IN) on their transcript.

The incomplete must be resolved by 1) the conferral date or 2) six (6) months from the date the incomplete grade was earned, whichever is earlier.

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure a grade is submitted by the agreed upon date or the incomplete deadline as determined by the above. The instructor is not required to submit a grade for the course after the applicable deadline. The mark of incomplete (IN) is not a final grade. Therefore, if a final grade is not submitted by this date, the mark of IN will revert to F (Failure). For further details or to apply for an incomplete, please visit Incomplete Grades.

MBA Elective Grade Distribution

The required grade distribution for MBA Elective Courses is as follows:

H+: No more than 2%*

H+, H, H-: ≤50%

+/- may be used with elective grades without restrictions.

*Since the Fall term of 2012, the grade of H+ is permitted in electives but strictly limited to 2% of the class enrollment, rounded up to the nearest integer. For courses with less than 50 students, no more than one H+ grade is permitted.

The recommended grade distribution for CBS Elective Courses is as follows:

P1, LP, F: ≥5%

+/- may be used with elective grades without restrictions.

Minimum GPA Requirements, Probation and Dismissal: 

Minimum GPA Requirements 

All students are required to hold a GPA of 5.5 to graduate; maintaining a GPA of 5.5 each and above each semester is essential to your success as a CBS student. During the academic review process at the end of each semester, the Office of Student Affairs monitors the academic performance of all students and makes available a support system for those in need of assistance.  

Students whose cumulative GPAs fall below the minimum requirements are subject to probation or dismissal.  

For dual degree students, the Business School GPA is determined by the grades received while in residence at the Business School; and includes all courses taken in those semesters, even those offered by the student's other school. Grades for Business School courses taken while in residence at their other school are not included in their cumulative GPA for the Business School.  

Minimum cumulative GPA requirements for Good Academic Standing, Academic Probation, and Academic Dismissal are below: 

 You can use this GPA calculator, developed by EMBA, if trying to calculate a possible GPA. 

 Students receiving federal financial aid should see the Office of Financial Aid's information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

 Academic Probation 

 Students on Academic Probation should prioritize their academic performance. To assist in this process, students on Academic Probation must comply with the following: 

• Students on Academic Probation may take no more than 15 credits per semester until Good Academic Standing is achieved.  
• Students on Academic Probation may not hold leadership positions at Columbia Business School.   
• Students on Academic Probation must meet with their academic advisor once per month to discuss academic progress, until Good Academic Standing is achieved.  

These standards are designed to provide the support and focus required to achieve Good Academic Standing. 

Academic Dismissal 

A student can appeal their dismissal to the MS & PhD Office by written petition no later than 5 business days after receiving notice of their dismissal. Students are required to meet and share their statement with their academic advisor prior to the committee meeting.   

The written petition should contain: 

• A statement addressing any circumstances that contributed to the students' academic performance. 
• A proposed schedule with rationale for class choices for all remaining semesters at CBS, and concrete steps the student will take to earn the necessary grades in each class. 
• A completed cumulative GPA calculation with projected grades that are needed to return to Good Academic Standing by the end of the subsequent semester.  

 If a student is granted permission to continue in the MS program, they are required to meet with their academic advisor every other week until Good Academic Standing is achieved. A student who was dismissed and whose appeal was not successful may re-apply, via regular admissions processes, to the program with a supplemental essay explaining the circumstances and how they have grown during the elapsed time.