If you would like to use a grading scheme that your institution has not created on the account level, you can create a new grading scheme for your course. View examples of common grading schemes.

Note: Your grading scheme will not take effect until it has been enabled for the course.

00:07: How do I add a grading scheme in a course?

00:10: In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

00:14: Click the Course Details tab.

00:17: Click the Enable course grading scheme checkbox.

00:20: Click the Add New Grading Scheme button.

00:23: Create a title in the grading scheme. Name field.

00:28: You can choose to have the grading scheme by percentage or points.

00:33: For each line, item edit the name in the letter grade field.

00:37: Edit the minimum end of each individual range in the 2% field to your desired number or percentage.

00:44: The grading scheme must cover, the full range from 100% to 0% and if using points, it must also span from 100 to 0.

00:55: If you need to add ranges, click the Add button. You can remove individual ranges by clicking the Delete button. When you are finished editing your grading scheme, click the Save button.

01:06: Canvas displays the current grading scheme enabled by your institution, if any. To manage grading schemes in your course, click the Manage All Grading Schemes link.

01:17: Your new grading scheme displays alphabetically in the Grading Scheme Name column.

01:23: You can duplicate the grading scheme, edit the grading scheme, archive the grading scheme, and delete a grading scheme by clicking the Delete icon.

01:33: This guide covered how to add a grading scheme in a course.

Open Settings

Open Settings

In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

Open Course Details

Open Course Details

Click the Course Details tab.

Enable Grading Scheme

Enable Grading Scheme

Click the Enable course grading scheme checkbox.

Note: Enabling the grading scheme applies a default Canvas grading scale. Click View to review the scheme and confirm it matches your course; if not, create a new grading scheme.

default grading scheme ranging from A+ to F

Add New Grading Scheme

Add New Grading Scheme

Click the +New Grading Scheme button.

Edit Grading Scheme

Edit Grading Scheme

Create a title in the Grading Scheme Name field [1].

You can choose to have the grading scheme by percentage or points [2].

For each line item, edit the name in the Letter Grade field [3].

Edit the minimum end of each individual range in the To [Number] % field [4].

The grading scheme must cover the full range from 100% to 0%, and if using points, it must also span from 100 to 0.

Add Range

Add Range

If you need to add ranges, click the Add button [1]. You can remove individual ranges by clicking the Delete button [2]. When you are finished editing your grading scheme, click the Save button [3].

Manage Grading Schemes

Manage Grading Schemes

Canvas displays the current grading scheme enabled by your institution, if any [1]. To manage grading schemes in your course, click the Manage All Grading Schemes link [2].

Modify Grading Scheme

Modify Grading Scheme

Your new grading scheme displays alphabetically in the Grading Scheme Name column [1].

You can duplicate the grading scheme [2], edit the grading scheme [3], archive the grading scheme [4], and delete a grading scheme by clicking the Delete icon [5].

 

Adapted from Instructure resource "How do I add a grading scheme in a course?" and updated Feb. 9, 2026