At most colleges an Incomplete (I) does not count in your GPA while it is open: the course sits outside the calculation until your instructor submits a real grade. The risk comes later. If you do not finish the work by the deadline, the I usually turns into a failing grade or into whatever grade you had already earned, and that grade then enters your GPA.
There are exceptions (at least one university counts an I like an F right away), so your catalog has the final word. This guide explains the common rules, shows the GPA math before and after an Incomplete is resolved, and gives you a plan for finishing on time.
What an Incomplete is
An Incomplete is a temporary mark for a student who has done most of a course at a passing level but cannot finish because of an emergency or other serious reason, such as illness, a family crisis or a required absence. It is not a way to avoid a bad grade, and it is not automatic: the instructor has to agree, and you normally sign or receive a written agreement listing the remaining work and the deadline.
How three universities handle an I
| University | GPA while the I is open | Deadline | If not finished |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | Not included in term GPA | End of the third following quarter of residence (summer excluded) | Becomes F, NP or U |
| Ohio State | Temporary mark until resolved | Sixth week of the following term, or earlier if the instructor says so | Becomes the grade you would have earned before the I |
| Notre Dame (graduate, business and law students) | Counted as an F (0.0) | Set by the school's policy | Counts as an F until a grade replaces it |
Some details worth knowing:
- UC Davis counts any I still open at graduation as a non-passing grade, which can affect your GPA and degree requirements. You can petition for an extension, but only before the grade lapses.
- Ohio State requires the instructor to agree to the I. You cannot enroll in the next course in a sequence until the I is changed to a grade that meets that course's minimum.
- Notre Dame limits the I to graduate, graduate business and law students, and it is calculated into the GPA as the equivalent of an F. This is the clearest example that an I is not harmless everywhere.
The GPA math, before and after
Priya (a fictional student) takes 15 credits. Four courses are finished; one 3-credit course gets an Incomplete.
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | A (4.0) | 3 | 12 |
| Calculus | B (3.0) | 4 | 12 |
| Psychology | B+ (3.3) | 3 | 9.9 |
| Spanish | A− (3.7) | 2 | 7.4 |
| History | I | 3 | — |
While the I is open (typical rule)
Leave the course out entirely:
- Quality points: 12 + 12 + 9.9 + 7.4 = 41.3
- GPA credits: 3 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 12
- Term GPA: 41.3 ÷ 12 = 3.44
After she finishes with a B
Add 3 credits × 3.0 = 9 quality points:
- 50.3 ÷ 15 = 3.35
If the I lapses to an F
Add 3 credits × 0.0 = 0 quality points:
- 41.3 ÷ 15 = 2.75
If her school counts an open I as 0.0 (Notre Dame-style)
The 2.75 shows up right away, and finishing the work replaces it with her real grade.
The gap between finishing with a B and letting the I lapse is 0.60 points in a single term. That is the strongest reason to treat the deadline seriously. The Semester GPA Calculator can run these scenarios; enter the open course only when you are testing a final grade.
Note that the resolved grade usually goes back to the original term, so your term and cumulative GPA for that semester both change when it posts. Use the Cumulative GPA Calculator to see the updated overall figure.
Before you ask for an Incomplete
Ask yourself and your instructor:
- Am I eligible? Most policies require passing work and a large share of the course already done.
- What exactly is left? Get the remaining assignments in writing.
- What is the deadline, and can it be extended? At UC Davis you must petition before the lapse.
- What does it turn into if I miss it? An F, a no-pass, or the grade I have now?
- Does it block anything? Prerequisites, financial aid progress, graduation, honors and athletic eligibility can all have their own rules.
Compare the Incomplete with your other options too. A late withdrawal (W) usually has no effect on GPA but earns no credit and can count against financial aid completion rates. Finishing the course with a lower grade may be better than an I you cannot realistically complete.
How to finish an Incomplete on time
- Put the deadline on your calendar and set a personal deadline two weeks earlier.
- Schedule the work like a class. Block two or three fixed sessions per week; an I competes with a full new semester.
- Check in with the instructor after the first piece of work, so you know you are on track.
- Keep copies of everything you submit and the email confirming it was received.
- Confirm the grade change was submitted, then check your transcript after it posts.
Common mistakes
- Assuming an I never counts. Notre Dame counts it as an F for the populations it covers.
- Assuming the I turns into an F. At Ohio State it becomes the grade you had already earned.
- Missing the extension window. Many schools only allow an extension before the I lapses.
- Forgetting that the term GPA changes. The final grade is usually posted to the original term.
- Registering for the next course in a sequence before the prerequisite I is resolved.
For other special grades, see how pass/fail grades affect GPA and retaking a class. If your GPA looks different from what you expect after the grade posts, read why your GPA might not match your transcript.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Incomplete hurt my GPA?
Usually not while it is open, because the course is left out of the GPA. At some schools, like Notre Dame for its graduate and law students, it counts as an F until resolved.
What happens if I don't finish an Incomplete?
It lapses to another grade: an F, NP or U at UC Davis, or the grade you had already earned at Ohio State. That grade then counts in your GPA.
Can I get an Incomplete just because I'm behind?
Generally no. Instructors grant them for serious circumstances when most of the course is already done at a passing level.
Does an Incomplete affect financial aid?
It can. Federal rules require every school's financial aid progress policy to say how incompletes are counted, and an open I may count as attempted but not completed credit. Ask your financial aid office.