Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last Verified: October 2026Primary Sources Sourced
Quick answer
Mexico has no GPA. UNAM grades on a 0–10 scale where the passing grades are 6 to 10 and 6 is the minimum (UNAM exam regulations), while Tec de Monterrey uses whole numbers from 1 to 100 with a minimum of 70 (Tec transcript notes). The closest equivalent of a GPA is the promedio on your transcript.
There is no official Mexico-to-US formula. US schools publish their own tables: the University of Washington Graduate School maps 9–10 to A, 8 to B and 6–7 to C, and NC State maps 9.0–10 to A, 8.0–8.9 to B and 6.0–7.9 to C (UW, NC State).
How Mexican grades work
There is no single national table, so the rules depend on the institution. Two published examples show how much they differ.
| Institution | Scale | Minimum pass | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNAM | 0–10; passing grades are 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 | 6 | Reglamento General de Exámenes, art. 3 |
| Tec de Monterrey | Whole numbers from 1 to 100 | 70 | Transcript academic information |
Tec de Monterrey also publishes descriptors for its scale: 100 Excellent, 90–99 Very good, 80–89 Good, 70–79 Average and below 70 Failing (Tec transcript notes). Other institutions use other wording, so a descriptor such as Excelente or Muy Bien does not carry a fixed numeric range across Mexico.
A course that is not passed can appear as NA (No Acreditada). Tec de Monterrey’s academic regulations define the NA grade in the article on the grading scale (Tec academic regulations).
A 0–100 mark is the same mark times ten (85/100 is 8.5/10), and the University of Washington lists both versions for Mexico (UW Graduate School). Check which scale your transcript uses.
Your promedio
The promedio is the cumulative average printed on your academic record, and it is the figure most applications ask for. Institutions do not all weight it the same way, so read the legend on your transcript. Tec de Monterrey’s transcript notes, for example, describe its course load in units (Tec transcript notes).
How US and Canadian schools convert Mexican grades
Each school sets its own mapping. Here is what three institutions publish, shown as published.
| Mexican grade | UW Graduate School | NC State Study Abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10 (90–100 on a 100 scale) | A | A (9.0–10.0) |
| 8 (80–89) | B | B (8.0–8.9) |
| 6–7 (60–70 as published) | C | C (6.0–7.9; 7.0 shown as the minimum passing grade) |
| 0–5 (0–59) | F | F (0–5.9) |
Sources: UW Graduate School, Computing Grade Point Averages and NC State Study Abroad, North America Grade Equivalencies. NC State describes its table as a guide rather than an absolute standard. The two tables also disagree on the pass mark: NC State shows 7.0, while UNAM’s regulation says 6.
Graduate admission. Simon Fraser University’s graduate studies office asks Master’s applicants from Mexico for 8 on a 10-point scale (SFU Mexico requirements). UW also points applicants to WES’s iGPA calculator when a scale is not covered (WES iGPA calculator).
Worked examples
Example 1: reading a promedio against the tables
| Promedio | UW Graduate School | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | A | A |
| 8.4 | The table lists 8 only; 8.4 sits inside the 80–89 band, B | B |
| 7.5 | The table lists whole numbers 6–7, so 7.5 is not covered | C |
A promedio between whole numbers can fall outside a table, which is why a school’s own instructions matter more than any single chart.
Example 2: simple average vs credit-weighted average (hypothetical)
Three courses: 9 (4 credits), 8 (3 credits), 10 (2 credits). Simple average = (9 + 8 + 10) ÷ 3 = 9.00. Credit-weighted = (9×4 + 8×3 + 10×2) ÷ 9 = 80 ÷ 9 = 8.89. Use the method your transcript legend states.
What is a 3.0 GPA in Mexico?
Mexico does not use GPA, so a 3.0 has no direct Mexican grade. A 3.0 is a B average on the US 4.0 scale. In the UW and NC State tables above, Mexican grades of 8 to 8.9 map to B, but each school sets its own mapping, and we found no official US-to-Mexico formula. We do not multiply by 0.4 or divide by 10, because none of the published tables works that way.
Reporting your grades
Follow each program’s instructions. If a program does not ask for a US GPA, give your grades and promedio exactly as they appear on your transcript, with the scale and the minimum pass mark. If it requires an evaluation, our WES evaluation guide explains the process. Do not report a figure from a calculator as if it were official. See our GPA systems around the world guide, and our Brazil conversion guide for another 0–10 system.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing grade in Mexico?
Does Mexico use GPA?
No. The closest equivalent is the promedio, the average shown on your academic record.
Is there an official Mexico-to-US GPA conversion?
We found none. US schools and evaluators publish their own tables, and they differ.
What is a 3.0 GPA in Mexico?
There is no direct Mexican grade. A 3.0 is a B average in the US, and the UW and NC State tables map Mexican 8 to 8.9 to B. Each school sets its own mapping.
What promedio do I need for a US Master’s program?
It varies by program. Simon Fraser University asks for 8 on a 10-point scale (SFU). Check your target program.
How do I convert my promedio?
Use the table or instructions of the school you are applying to, or an evaluation if it asks for one. We do not give a formula because none is official.
What does NA mean on a Mexican transcript?
NA stands for No Acreditada, meaning the course was not passed. Tec de Monterrey’s regulations define it (Tec regulations).
How we researched this
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We read UNAM’s Reglamento General de Exámenes, Tec de Monterrey’s transcript notes and academic regulations, the University of Washington Graduate School’s grade-computing guide, NC State Study Abroad’s grade equivalencies and Simon Fraser University’s Mexico requirements. The worked examples are our own arithmetic.
Rules differ by institution and change over time, so confirm yours with your university’s registrar and the program you apply to.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.