Repeating Courses

Updated 8/2025

With certain restrictions that are noted below, undergraduate students may retake a course with the intention of earning a higher grade. When a course is repeated, the GPA is computed by using the highest grade received. If “W” is the “repeat” grade, the initial grade will be used to compute the GPA. Grades from both initial and repeat attempts remain a part of the student’s permanent academic record.

Students may not enroll in a course and receive a grade more than three times, except in those courses identified in the Catalog as repeatable.

The only courses a student may repeat with a Credit/No Credit option are those in which the student previously received a grade of “NC” (No Credit). A course for which a student has already earned credit may not be repeated through credit by institutional examination. Courses initially taken at UH Hilo must be repeated at UH Hilo in order for the repeat grade to be calculated in the GPA. Grades from other institutions will not be used to calculate the GPA. A course taken at UH Hilo where course credit is received, must be repeated at UH Hilo in order to replace the previously earned credit and grade.

A repeated course is not removed from the student’s record. All grades earned are shown on the transcript. Any repeated courses taken after graduation will impact the student’s cumulative GPA, but not their graduation GPA.

Courses Repeatable for Additional Credit

Only certain courses that are identified in the Catalog as repeatable can be taken more than once for additional credit. Their course description include the phrase “may be repeated to credit.”

Policy Guidance

Many graduate and professional schools recalculate the grade point average using grades from all classes taken, including repeats, in determining eligibility for admission. This fact should be carefully considered by students who are attempting to increase their grade point average by repeating courses in which they have received a passing grade.