What Is Summa Cum Laude?
Let me explain summa cum laude to you directly: it translates to 'with the highest distinction' and stands as the most prestigious of the three Latin honors that U.S. educational institutions award to graduating students. This recognition highlights your exceptional academic achievements if you earn it. You'll find it alongside magna cum laude, meaning 'with great distinction,' and cum laude, or 'with distinction,' all of which underscore scholarly excellence throughout your academic path. While these honors are standard in the U.S., the specific criteria differ from one school to another, which adds to their prestige. Outside the U.S., such Latin honors are quite rare.
Key Takeaways
Here's what you need to know: summa cum laude represents the highest Latin honor, indicating a degree earned with the utmost distinction. The requirements differ by institution, typically demanding a high GPA, strong class rank, and sometimes a senior thesis or other accomplishments. These honors appear on your diploma and transcript, and they can influence your future in academia or employment. For instance, at elite schools like Harvard, it's given to those in the top 4-5% of their class, factoring in GPA and field mastery. That said, while important in academic circles, their weight in the job market varies, as some employers value other skills more.
Criteria and Recognition for Summa Cum Laude Honors
Summa cum laude is one of three Latin honors traditionally awarded to select students earning a bachelor's degree, though it can apply to other levels in some cases. If you graduate with honors, you might wear colored stoles or other markers during commencement, and the honor gets announced with your name. These honors depend on factors like GPA, class rank, completed credit hours, and departmental achievements. Each university sets its own standards for programs—some, like Stanford, use equivalents such as 'with Distinction' instead of Latin terms, and others skip them entirely.
GPA Standards for Earning Summa Cum Laude
Many schools base summa cum laude on your GPA. For example, at the University of New Mexico, you need a 3.90 GPA and 60 credit hours. Denver University requires a 3.95 GPA, 90 quarter hours, plus a thesis or senior project—if you have fewer hours, a departmental recommendation is necessary. Since this is the highest of the Latin honors, it's usually awarded to only a small number of graduates. If a school uses GPA criteria, the number of recipients can fluctuate yearly, with no fixed limit as long as you meet the thresholds.
Class Rank’s Role in Achieving Summa Cum Laude
While GPA is the most common factor for Latin honors in U.S. higher education, other elements can play a part, such as class rank. Some institutions reserve summa cum laude for those at the very top of their class, where GPA contributes but isn't the sole requirement—you don't always need a specific GPA to qualify. Take the University of Massachusetts at Amherst: to get summa cum laude, you must rank in the top 5% of your college's graduating class and complete 45 credits. In other setups, honors tie to performance in honors classes or major-specific courses. At the University of Notre Dame, for instance, honors are determined within your major's college, requiring a top 5% finish. Class rank means GPAs shift yearly—in 2023, Arts & Letters students needed a 3.972, compared to 3.94 in 2019.
Harvard’s Approach to Latin Honors
Harvard University is credited with starting Latin honors in the U.S. Their system differs, both historically and today. Faculty evaluate candidates for summa cum laude in their field by considering grades in major courses, course rigor, and demonstrations of mastery, like a senior thesis or exams. Only the top 4-5% of the class qualify for this in their field, and university-wide summa cum laude also follows that rank, with standards set each May. As a fast fact, Harvard introduced cum laude and summa cum laude in 1869, adding magna cum laude in 1880; in May 2023, the cutoff was a 3.986 GPA.
Special Considerations
In most colleges, the vast majority of bachelor's graduates don't receive any Latin honors. If you do, the impact varies by your field, future goals, and other factors. Graduate programs, especially top law schools, often emphasize academic rank and GPA heavily. In other areas, honors might matter less. When entering the job market, listing summa cum laude on your resume can signal intelligence, diligence, and work ethic to employers. However, some prioritize personality, skills, or simply attending a prestigious school like Harvard, regardless of honors. Job postings usually require a degree but seldom specify GPA or honors levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA is summa cum laude? It varies by university, but it generally means earning grades in the top percentage of your class or department, or meeting another high metric for recognition. What's higher, summa or magna? Summa is higher—'summa cum laude' means 'with the highest distinction,' while 'magna cum laude' is 'with great distinction,' and plain 'cum laude' is third. How do you list an honors degree on a resume? Place it right after your degree, like B.A. in History, summa cum laude—use lowercase and italics for Latin terms.
The Bottom Line
Summa cum laude is the pinnacle honor from educational institutions, awarded to students whose academic performance and field mastery surpass nearly everyone else in their class.
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