Do Grades Really Matter? Yes, Says Top Business School

Google and other top employers ask job candidates for their college GPAs. This has spurred the oft-mentioned debate, “Do grades really matter?”

Research from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management concludes that grades do matter in the job market. Here are the top two takeaways:

• Grades are valuable in distinguishing high performers and low performers
• When grades aren’t revealed, top performers have to work harder to distinguish themselves from poor performers. Non-GPA distinctions could include certifications, additional degrees, and extracurricular activities.