There are wide variations of college quality and standards vary in terms of rigor even within institutions like Harvard depending on student's majors and course choice. For employers, the question of grade inflation is only partially a problem when comparing student grades -- it is hard to measure a student's effort and achievement based upon GPA alone between institutions or majors, or even professors.

On an individual level, nothing is more frustrating for a student to receive C. In a course with different standards than the other student's classes. This is a disincentive to experiment, and to take harder classes, or to take classes from difficult and demanding professors. But on the other hand, it is almost impossible to set a rigid standard for all classes without impinging upon academic freedom in the classroom, even if it may mean harder but good professors get fewer students -- they will not...
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