Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that translates to "with honor" or "with praise." It is a traditional academic distinction awarded to college students who graduate at the top of their class.

The Typical Cum Laude GPA Cutoff

Because every university calculates grades slightly differently, there is no universal, national GPA requirement for Cum Laude. However, at the vast majority of American universities, Cum Laude is awarded to students who finish their undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 3.7.

Some universities don't use hard GPA cutoffs at all. Instead, they calculate the class rankings during the final semester and award Cum Laude strictly to the top 20% or 30% of the graduating class, regardless of what the exact GPA cutoff ends up being.

Where Does Cum Laude Rank?

Cum Laude is the first tier in the three-part Latin Honors system. The hierarchy is as follows:

  • Cum Laude ("With Honor"): Top 20% - 30% of the class. Typical GPA: 3.5 - 3.7.
  • Magna Cum Laude ("With Great Honor"): Top 10% - 15% of the class. Typical GPA: 3.7 - 3.9.
  • Summa Cum Laude ("With Highest Honor"): Top 1% - 5% of the class. Typical GPA: 3.9 - 4.0.

Will You Graduate Cum Laude?

Find out if your current grades are high enough to secure Latin Honors at graduation.

Should You Put Cum Laude on Your Resume?

Absolutely. If you achieve Cum Laude, you should list it on your resume under your Education section, right next to your degree. (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude).

For highly competitive graduate schools, law schools, and medical schools, graduating with Latin Honors is practically a requirement. For the general job market, it proves to employers that you are highly disciplined and capable of sustained excellence over a four-year period.