What are Latin Honors?

When attending a college graduation, you will frequently hear the announcer append Latin phrases to the ends of certain students' names. These phrases—Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude—are traditional academic distinctions known as Latin Honors, awarded to the absolute top tier of the graduating class.

The Three Tiers of Latin Honors

Latin Honors are designed to recognize exceptional academic diligence over a student's entire undergraduate career. While the exact GPA requirements vary wildly from university to university, the hierarchy remains the same worldwide:

1. Cum Laude ("With Honor")

Cum Laude translates to "with praise" or "with honor." It is the lowest tier of the three honors but still represents a massive academic achievement. Typically, a university will award Cum Laude to students who graduate in the top 20% to 30% of their class. At most state universities, this requires a final cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 3.7.

2. Magna Cum Laude ("With Great Honor")

Magna Cum Laude translates to "with great praise." This distinction is much harder to achieve. Universities usually reserve Magna Cum Laude for students graduating in the top 10% to 15% of their class. While the cutoff varies, it generally requires a cumulative GPA between 3.7 and 3.9.

3. Summa Cum Laude ("With Highest Honor")

Summa Cum Laude translates to "with highest praise." It is the ultimate academic distinction a university can bestow upon an undergraduate. This honor is usually reserved for the top 1% to 5% of the graduating class. At many institutions, achieving Summa Cum Laude requires a near-perfect cumulative GPA of 3.9 to 4.0. Some highly rigorous universities even require students to complete a senior thesis to qualify for this tier.

Why the Requirements Vary

It is important to note that there is no national standard for Latin Honors. A 3.8 GPA might earn you Summa Cum Laude at one university, while at an Ivy League school experiencing massive grade inflation, a 3.8 might barely qualify you for Cum Laude.

Because of this discrepancy, some universities have abandoned hard GPA cutoffs entirely. Instead, they calculate the exact percentiles of the graduating class during the final semester and award honors strictly based on your rank relative to your peers.

Do Latin Honors Matter?

Graduating with Latin Honors is an excellent addition to your resume, particularly if you are applying immediately to graduate school, law school, or medical school, as it signals sustained academic excellence.

For the general job market, it is a nice bonus that can help you stand out in a massive pile of entry-level resumes, but it will never outweigh actual internship experience or a strong portfolio. However, the pride of walking across the graduation stage with those distinct honors cords is an achievement you keep for the rest of your life.