The University of Washington transcript is more than just a list of grades; it is a permanent, comprehensive record of a student’s academic journey at one of the world’s leading public research universities. Whether you are a current student at the Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell campus, an alumnus applying for graduate school, or an employer verifying credentials, understanding the nuances of the UW transcript is essential.
1. Official vs. Unofficial Transcripts
The University of Washington provides two types of transcripts, each serving a distinct purpose.
Official Transcripts
The official transcript is the certified record of your academic history. It is printed on security paper (for hard copies) or delivered as a cryptographically signed PDF (for electronic versions).
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Purpose: Required for graduate school applications, professional certifications, visa processing, and employment background checks.
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Authentication: It bears the Seal of the University and the signature of the University Registrar.
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Cost: Managed via Parchment, the fee is typically $11 per copy (subject to change).
Unofficial Transcripts
The unofficial transcript contains the same academic information but lacks the official seal and security features.
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Purpose: Best for personal review, meeting with academic advisors, or internal campus applications (like student clubs).
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Access: Students with an active UW NetID can access this for free through the MyUW portal.
2. The Unique UW Numerical Grading System
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the UW transcript is its numerical grading scale. Unlike most American universities that use a letter-based system (A, B, C, D, F), the UW utilizes a 4.0-scale system where grades are assigned in 0.1 increments.
The 4.0 Scale Breakdown
At UW, instructors report grades as numbers ranging from 4.0 to 0.7, then 0.0.
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4.0 – 3.9: Equivalent to an A. Represents superior achievement.
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3.8 – 3.5: Equivalent to an A-.
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3.4 – 3.2: Equivalent to a B+.
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3.1 – 2.9: Equivalent to a B.
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2.8 – 2.5: Equivalent to a B-.
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0.7: The lowest passing grade for which credit is typically awarded.
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0.0: Failure; no credit is earned.
Special Grade Designations
The transcript also includes several letter-based “special” grades:
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S/NS (Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory): A “pass/fail” option. An S is granted if the student earns a 2.0 or higher. It does not affect the GPA.
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CR/NC (Credit/No Credit): Used for specific courses where no numerical grade is given.
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W (Withdrawal): Indicates a student dropped the course after the first two weeks of the quarter.
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I (Incomplete): Given when a student is doing satisfactory work but cannot complete the course due to circumstances beyond their control.
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X: Indicates a grade has not yet been submitted by the instructor.
3. Anatomy of the Transcript Document
A UW transcript is organized chronologically by academic quarter (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer). Each entry includes:
Header Information
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Student Identification: Full name, Student Number, and Birthdate (month/day).
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Campus: Indicates whether the coursework was completed at Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma.
Academic Coursework
For every quarter, the following is listed:
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Department and Course Number: (e.g., CSE 142 for Computer Science).
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Course Title: (e.g., Intro to Programming I).
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Credits: The number of credit hours assigned to the course.
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Grade: The numerical or special grade earned.
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R (Repeat): An “R” flag indicates a repeated course, which may affect how credits are calculated.
GPA Totals
At the end of each quarter section, the transcript displays:
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Quarterly GPA: Calculated by dividing the total grade points earned that quarter by the credit hours attempted.
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Cumulative GPA: The running average of all numerical grades earned at the University of Washington.