Latin Honors GPA: Cum Laude, Magna and Summa

Cum laude, magna, and summa cum laude GPA thresholds compared across 100 major universities

What earns cum laude at one school might qualify for summa at another. Here is how each honor level compares across fixed and ranked systems.

Cum laude
3.50+
“With honor”
Magna cum laude
3.70+
“With great honor”
Summa cum laude
3.90+
“With highest honor”

The most common fixed cutoffs, not a national rule. Colleges that rank by class often ask for more.

Find your university

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Latin honors GPA by school

Search your university for its official rule, the college it covers, the year of any GPA cutoffs and any extra requirement.

UniversityCum laudeMagna cum laudeSumma cum laude
University of Alabama
Rule details45 semester hours at Alabama. Only your Alabama GPA counts; transfer grades don't. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
University of Arizona
Rule details45 graded units at Arizona. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.900
Arizona State University
Rule detailsOnly ASU coursework counts in the GPA. ASU calls this graduation with academic recognition. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.403.603.80
Auburn University
Rule details60 hours in residence at Auburn. Only Auburn coursework counts in the GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.403.603.80
BYUCutoffs: August 2024 latest postedBoth GPAs must qualify
Rule details45 residency hours. Both your BYU GPA and total GPA must meet the cutoff. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 10%3.93 GPATop 5%3.97 GPATop 1%4.00 GPA
Baylor University
Rule detailsMust graduate in residence. Only Baylor residence credit counts in the GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.753.853.95
Boston College
Rule detailsFixed cutoffs since the Class of 2021. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.6673.803.90
Boston University
Rule detailsRanked within each school; GPA cutoffs change every year. Official rule
Next 15% + 3.0Next 10% + 3.0Top 5% + 3.0
Brown University
Rule detailsOnly magna is awarded, based on your share of A grades, not a GPA. Official rule
Not awardedTop 20% (approx.)Not awarded
CU BoulderCollege of Arts & SciencesHonors thesis required
Rule detailsWrite and defend an honors thesis. GPA is only a guideline; the thesis committee sets your level. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
3.3 + thesis3.5 + thesis3.8 + thesis
Caltech
Rule detailsNo graduation honors; Caltech recognizes students with named prizes. Official rule
No graduation honors
Carnegie Mellon UniversityEach college picks
Rule detailsEach college chooses its University Honors list; no cum/magna/summa. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for University Honors (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsUniversity Honors3.5+ typical, college picks
Case Western Reserve UniversityCutoffs: 2027 degrees
Rule details54 graded credit hours in residence. GPA cutoffs are published in advance. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 15%3.836 GPANext 10%3.930 GPATop 10%3.977 GPA
University of ChicagoReview for magna and summa
Rule detailsRanked within your major over five years; Latin honors are new here. Official rule
Top 25%Top 15% + reviewTop 8% + review
Clemson University
Rule detailsThese cutoffs have applied since 2014. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.703.853.95
Columbia UniversityColumbia College
Rule detailsTop 25% in all; announced after commencement. Official rule
Next 10%Next 10%Top 5%
Cornell University
Rule detailsNew rule from December 2026; ranked within each college. Official rule
Next 15%Next 10%Top 5%
Dartmouth CollegeCutoffs: Honors awarded 2026-27
Rule detailsCutoffs come from the last three years of graduates. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 35%3.83 GPATop 15%3.92 GPATop 5%3.98 GPA
University of DelawareArts & Sciences · Cutoffs: 2026-27
Rule detailsRanked within each college; academic renewal students aren't eligible. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 8% + 3.253.882 GPANext 4% + 3.53.958 GPATop 1% + 3.753.992 GPA
Drexel University
Rule details75 credits at Drexel. Transfer credits don't count toward the 75. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.900
Duke UniversityTrinity College · Cutoffs: Class of 2026
Rule detailsOnly Duke coursework counts. Trinity and Pratt rank separately; cutoffs change every year. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 10%3.947 GPANext 10%3.972 GPATop 5%4.000 GPA
Emory UniversityEmory College of Arts and Sciences
Rule detailsRanked among Emory College graduates; GPA ranges set each May. Official rule
Top 30%Top 15%Top 5%
University of FloridaCollege of Liberal Arts and SciencesThesis for magna and summa
Rule detailsGPA counts from after your first 60 credits. Faculty review of your thesis sets magna or summa. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
3.503.50 + thesis3.50 + thesis
Florida State UniversityBoth GPAs must qualify
Rule details40 graded semester hours at FSU. Both your FSU GPA and combined GPA must qualify. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.900
Georgetown University
Rule detailsRanked within each school; no published GPA cutoffs found. Official rule
Next 10%Next 10%Top 5%
University of Georgia
Rule detailsTransfer work counts in the GPA; a 4.0 earns First Honor Graduate. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.603.753.90
Georgia Tech
Rule details60 credit hours at Georgia Tech. No appeals of the GPA or residency rule. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for honors, high honors, highest honors.
Not Latin honorsHonors3.15High honors3.35Highest honors3.55
Harvard UniversityHarvard College · Cutoffs: May 2026Department honors needed
Rule details96 credits in letter-graded courses. Needs your concentration's honors recommendation as well as GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 50% + dept. honors3.741 GPATop 20% + dept. honors3.925 GPATop 5% + highest honors3.987 GPA
University of Houston
Rule detailsGPA on your last 54 hours at UH. The Honors College has its own separate rules. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
University of IllinoisCollege of Liberal Arts & Sciences · Cutoffs: Dec 2025–Aug 2026Both GPAs must qualify
Rule detailsBoth your Illinois GPA and overall GPA must meet the cutoff. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 12%3.94 GPATop 7%3.98 GPATop 3%4.00 GPA
Illinois Tech
Rule details60 graded credit hours at Illinois Tech. Only Illinois Tech courses count in the GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.85
Indiana UniversityCollege of Arts and Sciences · Cutoffs: Fall 2026
Rule details60 graded credit hours at IU. Cutoffs are set yearly from the past three classes; other schools differ. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, high distinction, highest distinction (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 10%3.930 GPAHigh distinctionTop 6%3.966 GPAHighest distinctionTop 3%3.990 GPA
University of Iowa
Rule details60 semester hours at Iowa. Same cutoffs in every undergraduate college except Pharmacy. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, high distinction, highest distinction.
Not Latin honorsDistinction3.75High distinction3.85Highest distinction3.95
Iowa State University
Rule details60 credits at Iowa State (50 graded). Iowa State calls this Graduation with Distinction. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Johns Hopkins University
Rule detailsOne honors level; departments also give their own honors. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for general honors.
Not Latin honorsGeneral Honors3.50
University of Kansas
Rule details60 graded hours in residence at KU. Ranked within each school; no GPA cutoffs published. Official rule
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 10%Highest distinctionTop third of top 10%
University of Kentucky
Rule details90 credit hours at UK. With only 60 hours at UK, each cutoff is 0.2 higher. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.403.603.80
LSU
Rule detailsColleges may add their own requirements. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.703.803.90
MIT
Rule detailsNo graduation honors or class rank. Official rule
No graduation honors
Marquette University
Rule details60 grade point hours at Marquette. Only your Marquette GPA counts, and it isn't rounded. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.900
University of MarylandArts and Humanities · Cutoffs: 2026-273.900+ also earns cum laude
Rule details60 semester hours at UMD. Ranked within each college; any eligible student with a 3.900 or higher also earns cum laude. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 5%, or 3.900+3.900 GPANext 3%3.991 GPATop 2%4.000 GPA
University of Miami
Rule detailsEach school sets its GPA cutoffs from last year's class. Official rule
Next 10%Next 10%Top 5%
University of MichiganCollege of LSA · Cutoffs: 2026 graduates
Rule detailsHighest: 45 graded credits in residence. LSA rule; other Michigan schools set their own. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, high distinction, highest distinction (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 25%3.866 GPAHigh distinctionTop 10%3.955 GPAHighest distinctionTop 3%3.993 GPA
Michigan State UniversityCutoffs: 2026
Rule detailsTransfers: 50 credits at MSU. GPA minimums are set each year; your GPA is truncated, not rounded. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for with honor, with high honor (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsWith HonorNext ~14%3.88 GPAWith High HonorTop ~6%3.98 GPA
Michigan Tech
Rule detailsThe commencement program uses your prior-semester GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
University of MinnesotaUniversity Honors Program
Rule detailsComplete the University Honors Program. Others can earn "with distinction" instead. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.6663.750
University of Missouri
Rule details30 credit hours of MU courses. Same rule in every undergraduate college. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.6003.8003.900
NC State
Rule details30 credit hours and two semesters at NC State. Credit earned elsewhere doesn't count. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.253.503.75
University of Nebraska–LincolnCollege of Arts and SciencesThesis optionCommittee recommendation
Rule details60 credit hours at UNL for high or highest. Awarded on committee recommendation, not automatically. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, high distinction, highest distinction (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsDistinction3.850, or 3.500 + thesisHigh distinction3.920, or 3.850 + thesisHighest distinction3.920 + thesis
University of New Hampshire
Rule details64 graded semester hours at UNH. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.653.85
New York UniversityCollege of Arts and Science
Rule details64 credits in CAS. Cutoffs come from the previous year's graduates in each school. Official rule
Next 15%Next 10%Top 5%
Northeastern University
Rule details64 semester hours in residence. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.850
Northwestern UniversityWeinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Rule detailsExact GPA cutoffs are not released. Official rule
Next 12%Next 8%Top 5%
University of Notre DameArts & Letters · Cutoffs: 2026
Rule detailsRanked within each college; cutoffs set every February. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 30%3.862 GPATop 15%3.935 GPATop 5%3.980 GPA
Ohio State University
Rule details60 credit hours at Ohio State. Pass/no-pass credits don't count toward the 60. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
University of Oklahoma
Rule details60 hours at OU. Any Academic Integrity action makes you ineligible. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.603.753.90
University of Oregon
Rule details90 credits in residence at UO. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.753.853.95
Penn State
Rule details60 credits at Penn State. Ranked within each college; only the top 12% qualify. Official rule
Next 6% + 3.50Next 4% + 3.50Top 2% + 3.50
University of Pennsylvania
Rule detailsSame cutoffs in all four undergraduate schools. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.403.603.80
University of Pittsburgh
Rule details60 letter-graded credits at Pitt. All your Pitt coursework counts in the GPA. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.253.503.75
Princeton UniversitySenior thesisSet by each department
Rule detailsDepartmental work, including the senior thesis. Each major's department awards honors; no GPA rule. Official rule
Not Latin honorsHonorsSet by departmentHigh honorsSet by departmentHighest honorsSet by department
Purdue UniversityLiberal Arts · Cutoffs: May 2026
Rule details65 credit hours at Purdue. Distinction is ranked within each school; cutoffs set each spring. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, highest distinction (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 10% + 3.303.91 GPAHighest distinctionTop three-tenths of distinction3.98 GPA
University of Rhode Island
Rule details60 credits at URI (55 graded). Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.303.503.70
Rice UniversityHumanities · Cutoffs: 2025-26
Rule detailsRanked within each school, so cutoffs differ by school. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 15%3.9401 GPANext 10%3.9786 GPATop 5%4.000 GPA
University of RochesterCollege of Arts, Sciences & Engineering · Cutoffs: Class of 2026
Rule details88 credit hours in the College. Cutoffs are announced each spring. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 15%3.75 GPANext 12%3.86 GPATop 5%3.97 GPA
Rutgers–New BrunswickSchool of Arts and Sciences
Rule detailsGPA isn't rounded; some other Rutgers schools use different cutoffs. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.5003.7003.850
University of San Diego
Rule detailsHalf of your degree work at USD. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
University of South Carolina
Rule details60 credit hours in residence at USC. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.753.95
University of South Florida
Rule details40 graded upper-level credits at USF. GPA isn't rounded; academic dishonesty makes you ineligible. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Stanford University
Rule detailsGPA is counted through winter quarter. Official rule
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 15%
Syracuse University
Rule details60 GPA credit hours at Syracuse. The School of Architecture uses lower cum and magna cutoffs. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.4003.6003.800
TCU
Rule details45 semester hours at TCU. Only your TCU GPA counts. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Temple UniversityCollege of Liberal Arts · Cutoffs: 2026-27
Rule details60 credits at Temple. Each college publishes fixed GPA cutoffs every year. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
9% of graduates3.94 GPA5% of graduates3.97 GPA2% of graduates3.99 GPA
University of Tennessee
Rule detailsFor 2022-23 and later catalogs. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Texas A&M University
Rule details60 semester hours at Texas A&M. Upper-division academic misconduct makes you ineligible. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Tufts UniversitySchool of Arts & SciencesA grades in your majorFaculty approval
Rule details5-6 A/A- grades in your major's courses. Engineering uses 3.20 / 3.50 / 3.80. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
3.50 + A grades3.65 + dept. approval3.80 + faculty approval
UC BerkeleyCollege of Letters & Science · Cutoffs: 2025-26
Rule details50 UC Berkeley units (43 letter-graded). Cutoffs are released each November; other colleges set their own rules. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, high distinction, highest distinction (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsDistinctionNext 10%3.852 GPAHigh distinctionNext 7%3.936 GPAHighest distinctionTop 3%3.989 GPA
UC Davis
Rule details45 units at UC Davis. Shown for 135+ units; smaller shares with fewer units, ranked by college. Official rule
Not Latin honorsHonorsNext 8%High honorsNext 4%Highest honorsTop 4%
UC IrvineHumanities · Cutoffs: 2025-26
Rule details72 units in residence at a UC campus. Ranked within each school; cutoffs published every year. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 10%3.879 GPANext 4%3.959 GPATop 2%3.987 GPA
UC San DiegoCutoffs: Fall 2026–Summer 2027
Rule details72 letter-graded quarter units at UC. One campus-wide ranking; GPA isn't rounded. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 8%3.888 GPANext 4%3.959 GPATop 2%3.991 GPA
UC Santa BarbaraCollege of Letters & Science · Cutoffs: 2025-26
Rule details60 letter-graded UC units. Cutoffs come from last year's graduates in each college. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for honors, high honors, highest honors (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Not Latin honorsHonorsNext 11.5%3.79 GPAHigh honorsNext 6%3.90 GPAHighest honorsTop 2.5%3.97 GPA
UCF
Rule details48 credit hours at UCF. Any record of academic dishonesty makes you ineligible. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.8003.9003.950
UCLACollege of Letters and Science · Cutoffs: 2026-27
Rule details90 letter-graded UC units. Cutoffs change every year and differ by school. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Set each year3.921 GPASet each year3.970 GPASet each year3.992 GPA
UConnCLAS · Cutoffs: May 2026
Rule details54 credits at UConn. Cutoffs are set each year for each school. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
75th percentile + 3.03.794 GPA85th percentile + 3.43.892 GPA95th percentile + 3.73.976 GPA
UMass AmherstHumanities & Fine Arts · Cutoffs: 2026-27
Rule details45 graded credits at UMass Amherst. Cutoffs are set each fall from a three-year average. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Top 25%3.888 GPATop 10%3.965 GPATop 5%3.988 GPA
UNC Chapel Hill
Rule details45 academic hours at UNC. Not awarded retroactively. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction, highest distinction.
Not Latin honorsDistinction3.500Highest distinction3.800
USCBoth GPAs must qualify
Rule detailsBoth your USC and combined GPA must qualify; the lower one counts. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
UT AustinCollege of Liberal Arts
Rule details60 semester hours at UT Austin. Actual cutoffs can be higher than these minimum GPAs. Official rule
Not Latin honorsHonorsTop 20% + 3.30High honorsTop 10% + 3.667Highest honorsTop 4% + 3.867
UW–MadisonCollege of Letters & Science
Rule details60 residence credits at UW–Madison. Ranked each term; no Latin honors. Official rule
Not Latin honorsDistinctionTop 20%
University of Utah
Rule details60 credit hours at Utah. New university-wide cutoffs from August 2026 replace college ranges. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.703.90
Vanderbilt UniversityCollege of Arts and Science · Cutoffs: 2026-27
Rule detailsCutoffs are set each June from the past three classes. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 12%3.908 GPANext 8%3.961 GPATop 5%3.990 GPA
University of Vermont
Rule details60 letter-graded credits at UVM. Ranked within each college; no published GPA cutoffs found. Official rule
Next 10%Next 10%Top 5%
Villanova University
Rule detailsOfficial rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.753.90
University of VirginiaCollege of Arts & Sciences
Rule detailsOther UVA schools use up to three levels with their own cutoffs. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for distinction.
Not Latin honorsDistinction3.600
Virginia Tech
Rule details60 credit hours at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech calls this graduation with Distinction; GPA isn't rounded. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.403.603.80
Wake Forest University
Rule detailsOnly your Wake Forest GPA counts; cutoffs come from May graduates. Official rule
Next 15%Next 10%Top 5%
WashUCollege of Arts & SciencesDepartment honors program
Rule details3.65 GPA plus a department honors program. Only students completing department honors are ranked. Official rule
Next 50% of candidatesNext 35% of candidatesTop 15% of candidates
University of WashingtonSeattle Arts & Sciences · Cutoffs: 2025-26
Rule details90 residence credits at UW (60 graded). Ranked within each college; about 10% earn honors. Official rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude (an estimate where the cutoff changes each year).
Next 6.5%3.91 GPANext 3%3.97 GPATop 0.5%4.00 GPA
William & Mary
Rule detailsOfficial rule Plan the GPA you need for cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
3.503.653.80
Yale University
Rule detailsOnly Yale courses count. Called General Honors; no more than 30% of the class. Official rule
Next 15%Next 10%Top 5%
Bachelor's degree rules, checked October 2026 against each university's catalog or registrar. Cutoffs at colleges that rank by class change every year; the year is on each row.

Common mistake

Using the university’s headline rule when your own college sets its cutoff. At UCLA, the University of Maryland and Duke University, each school ranks its graduates separately.

Cum laude vs magna cum laude vs summa cum laude

Latin honors are printed on your diploma and transcript. Because each college sets its own rule, the same honor can take a very different GPA from one school to the next.

Cum laudeWith honorMagna cum laudeWith great honorSumma cum laudeWith highest honor
Colleges with a fixed GPA cutoff
Most common3.50+3.70+3.90+
Range3.25–3.803.50–3.903.70–3.95
Colleges that honor a share of the class
Usual shareTop 25–30%Top 15%Top 5%
Latest cutoffs3.74–3.953.86–3.993.97–4.00
Usual share is counted from the top, so cum laude includes everyone above it. Latest cutoffs are the lowest and highest GPA each level took where colleges publish them. Checked October 2026.

Warning

A 3.50 doesn’t earn cum laude everywhere. At colleges that rank by class, the latest published cum laude cutoffs ran from 3.74 to 3.95.

Fixed GPA cutoffs vs class rank

Colleges commonly set honors by a fixed GPA or by a share of the graduating class, sometimes with extra requirements like a thesis or department honors. Which one yours uses changes how you plan:

Compare

Fixed GPA cutoff

  • Your target is known from day one
  • Everyone above the line earns the honor
  • Most often 3.50, 3.70 and 3.90
  • University of Pennsylvania: magna cum laude at 3.60

Share of the class

  • The cutoff moves every year with your class
  • Often set separately for each college
  • Usually the top 25–30%, 15% and 5%
  • Harvard University: magna cum laude took 3.925 (May 2026)

Colleges that don’t use Latin honors

Some well-known universities use other names, or give no graduation honors at all:

UniversityWhat they awardRule
MITNo graduation honorsNo graduation honors or class rank
CaltechNo graduation honorsCaltech recognizes students with named prizes
Princeton UniversityHonors · High honors · Highest honorsSet by department
Stanford UniversityDistinctionTop 15%
University of MichiganCollege of LSADistinction · High distinction · Highest distinctionTop 25% / Top 10% / Top 3%
UC BerkeleyCollege of Letters & ScienceDistinction · High distinction · Highest distinctionNext 10% / Next 7% / Top 3%
Georgia TechHonors · High honors · Highest honors3.15 / 3.35 / 3.55
UNC Chapel HillDistinction · Highest distinction3.500 / 3.800

How to plan for Latin honors

Find your GPA now with the college GPA calculator, then work out the average you need in your remaining credits. Where the cutoff changes each year, treat last year’s number as an estimate and aim above it.

Example

You have a 3.60 GPA across 90 graded credits and want magna cum laude at a college with a fixed 3.70 cutoff by 120 credits. You need a 4.00 average in your last 30 credits: (3.70 × 120 − 3.60 × 90) ÷ 30 = 4.00. Run it in the Target GPA Calculator.

Before you set a target

Check these in your college’s official rule, linked from its row in the table:

Checklist

  • Find your university in the table and open its official rule
  • Check whether your own college or school sets a separate cutoff
  • Count your credits there against the minimum the rule names
  • Check whether transfer grades count (at many colleges they don’t)
  • If your college ranks by class, aim above its last published cutoff

Frequently asked questions

What GPA is cum laude?

There’s no single answer. Where the GPA is fixed, 3.50 is the most common cum laude cutoff among the colleges we checked, and they range from 3.25 to 3.80. Colleges that rank by class usually ask for more: the latest cum laude cutoffs they published ran from 3.74 to 3.95.

What GPA is magna cum laude?

3.70 is the most common fixed cutoff among the colleges we checked. Where honors go to a share of the class, the latest published magna cum laude cutoffs ran from 3.86 to 3.99.

What GPA is summa cum laude?

3.90 is the most common fixed cutoff among the colleges we checked. Where summa goes to the top few percent of the class, the latest cutoffs colleges published ran from 3.97 to 4.00, close to straight A’s.

Does a 3.699 round up to 3.70?

Usually not. University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, UC San Diego and Rutgers–New Brunswick say they don’t round up, and Duke University cuts GPAs off rather than rounding them (Michigan State does the same for its graduation honors). Check your college’s official rule in the table.

Do my final-semester grades count?

For the diploma and transcript, usually yes: honors there use your final GPA. The ceremony often comes first: Michigan Tech prints honors in the commencement program from your previous-semester GPA, and Texas A&M University recognizes them at commencement from your GPA through the 60th class day of your final term.

Are Latin honors the same as departmental honors or the honors college?

No. Latin honors follow your overall GPA or class rank. Departmental honors come from your major, often with a thesis, and finishing an honors college or program is separate again. A few colleges tie them together: at Harvard most Latin honors depend on honors in your concentration, in WashU’s Arts & Sciences Latin honors require department honors, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities requires its University Honors Program.

Do transfer grades and retakes count toward Latin honors?

Keep three questions apart: whether transfer credits count toward your degree, whether they meet the honors credit minimum, and whether their grades enter the honors GPA. Many colleges require a minimum of credits taken there, and many use only their own GPA, like the University of Florida. Others count transfer grades too: the University of Georgia uses all your college work, and Florida State University and USC require both their own GPA and your combined GPA to qualify. Retakes vary as well; the University of South Florida doesn’t apply grade forgiveness to honors.

Is magna cum laude better than cum laude?

Yes. The order from lowest to highest is cum laude (with honor), magna cum laude (with great honor) and summa cum laude (with highest honor).

Do all colleges give Latin honors?

No. MIT and Caltech have no graduation honors levels, Princeton leaves honors to each department, and Stanford graduates the top 15% “with distinction”. Many public universities, including Michigan and UC Berkeley, use “distinction” instead.

Keep planning

Target GPA Calculator

The GPA you need in your remaining credits.

College GPA Calculator

See your cumulative GPA by semester.

What Is a Good GPA?

How your GPA compares in high school and college.

Sources

Reviewed by the GPA Calculator team · Updated October 2026

Each university’s own undergraduate catalog, registrar page or faculty rules, linked from its row in the table above (checked October 2026).