Latin honors are a system of three academic distinctions awarded at graduation to recognize students with the highest GPAs. The three levels, from highest to lowest, are summa cum laude (“with highest praise”), magna cum laude (“with great praise”), and cum laude (“with praise”). Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States use some version of this system, though the specific GPA cutoffs vary widely from school to school.
The Three Levels
Summa cum laude sits at the top. It is the most selective designation, typically reserved for the top 5% of a graduating class or students with GPAs very close to 4.0. At many competitive schools, the cutoff hovers around 3.9 or higher.
Magna cum laude is the middle tier, recognizing students who fall just below the summa threshold. Depending on the institution, this usually covers roughly the next 10% of graduates by GPA.
Cum laude is the broadest of the three, capturing the next tier below magna. It still represents strong academic performance, generally placing a student in roughly the top 25% to 30% of their class.
How Schools Set GPA Cutoffs
There is no universal GPA that earns Latin honors everywhere. Each school, and sometimes each college within a university, sets its own thresholds. Some institutions use fixed GPA floors (for example, 3.9 for summa, 3.7 for magna, 3.5 for cum laude), while others recalculate cutoffs each year based on the previous graduating class’s GPA distribution.
To illustrate how much cutoffs can vary even within one university: at NYU for the 2025-2026 academic year, the summa cum laude threshold ranges from 3.900 in the dental school to 4.000 in the Silver School of Social Work. The cum laude floor ranges from 3.688 in the Tandon School of Engineering to 3.915 in the Silver School. Grade distributions differ by program, so cutoffs reflect the academic profile of each school’s students rather than a single universal standard.
At schools that use a percentile-based system, grade inflation can push the actual GPA numbers higher over time. A 3.8 might have earned magna cum laude a decade ago at a school where the cutoff is now 3.87. If you want to know where you stand, check your registrar’s office or academic advising page for the most current thresholds at your specific institution.
Eligibility Requirements Beyond GPA
Meeting the GPA cutoff is necessary but not always sufficient. Most schools impose additional eligibility rules that can trip up students who aren’t aware of them.
- Minimum credit hours: Schools typically require that you complete a certain number of graded units at their institution. At UCLA’s engineering school, for example, students need at least 90 letter-graded units (or 72 for transfer students) completed within the University of California system.
- Residency requirements: Credits earned at another institution before transferring usually don’t count toward the GPA used for honors calculations. If you transferred in as a junior, your honors GPA may be based only on the coursework you completed after arriving.
- Major-specific GPA minimums: Some programs look at more than your cumulative GPA. They may require a separate minimum in upper-division courses within your major. UCLA’s engineering school, for instance, requires at least a 3.25 in major-field upper-division courses on top of meeting the overall cutoff.
- Course exclusions: Courses taken pass/fail or for no credit generally do not factor into honors calculations. Some schools also exclude excess elective units or courses applied to a minor rather than your primary degree requirements.
These rules mean that a student with a qualifying cumulative GPA could still miss out on honors if they don’t meet the credit or residency thresholds. It’s worth checking the fine print with your registrar well before your final semester.
Where Latin Honors Appear
If you earn Latin honors, the designation typically appears on your diploma and your official transcript. During commencement, many schools also distinguish honors recipients with colored cords, stoles, or medallions worn with the cap and gown. The specific regalia varies by institution.
On your transcript, the honors designation is permanent. It becomes part of your academic record and can be verified by any employer or graduate program that requests your transcript.
How Much Latin Honors Matter for Jobs and Grad School
Latin honors carry the most weight early in your career, when you don’t yet have a long work history to speak for you. For entry-level roles, listing cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude in the education section of your resume signals strong academic performance to recruiters who may be sorting through hundreds of applications from recent graduates. This is especially true in fields where academic rigor is valued, like finance, law, consulting, engineering, and research.
For graduate school admissions, honors can reinforce your transcript. Admissions committees will see your actual grades regardless, but the honors designation provides a quick shorthand that your GPA placed you near the top of your class. This context is particularly helpful when applying to programs at schools with different grading scales or cultures.
The practical impact fades as your career progresses. Once you have several years of professional experience, employers care far more about your work history, skills, and accomplishments than your undergraduate GPA. Most professionals stop listing Latin honors on their resume after five to ten years in the workforce, though there’s no hard rule.
For students and recent graduates, the standard practice is to include the honors designation in the education section of your resume, right next to your degree. Something like “B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude” is clean and easy for a recruiter to spot. If you’re applying for a role where academic performance is a key qualification, mentioning it briefly in a cover letter or resume summary can add emphasis.
Schools That Use Different Systems
Not every institution uses Latin honors. Some colleges and universities award honors based on a thesis or capstone project rather than GPA alone, or they use English-language designations like “with distinction” or “with high distinction.” A handful of schools have eliminated honors entirely, arguing that grade inflation has made the distinctions less meaningful. If your school doesn’t use the Latin system, check whether it offers an equivalent designation and how it’s determined.