Grade inflation vs deflation depends on your benchmark. Relative to the average Vandy GPA of 25 years ago, 2.9, yes there has been grade inflation. Compared to Brown, Yale, Harvard, or Stanford grades are deflated. The idea that the worlds best test takers make 60’s to 70’s on “intro” level STEM classes and need a curve is ridiculous deflation. When compared to Princeton, MIT, JHU, Cal-B the grades are even.