Summa Cum Laude: Highest Academic Honors Explained

What Is Summa Cum Laude?

Summa cum laude, translating to 'with the highest distinction,' is the most prestigious of the three Latin honors conferred by educational institutions in the United States. This accolade recognizes the exceptional academic achievements of graduating students. Alongside magna cum laude ('with great distinction') and cum laude ('with distinction'), these honors reflect the scholarly excellence of a student's academic journey. While these honors are widely adopted across U.S. institutions, the criteria for each category vary among schools and universities, underscoring the prestige of the recognition. Unlike their commonality in the U.S., such Latin honors remain rare in other global regions.

Criteria and Recognition for Summa Cum Laude Honors

Summa cum laude is one of the three Latin honors traditionally given to select students upon receiving a bachelor's degree, although it can, in some cases, be included with other degree levels. Students who graduate with honors may wear colored stoles or other designations during commencement ceremonies, and the honor is read aloud along with the person's name.

Latin honors can be based on criteria like GPA, class rank, credit hours completed, and departmental honors.

Every university or college outlines its expectations for each program. Some schools, such as Stanford University, use non-Latin honors, like "with Distinction," which are considered equivalent to Latin titles. Others don't use Latin honors at all.

GPA Standards for Earning Summa Cum Laude

Many schools use a student's GPA to award summa cum laude. At the University of New Mexico, a 3.90 GPA and 60 credit hours are needed. Denver University requires a 3.95 GPA, 90 quarter hours, and a thesis or senior project. If under 90 hours, a departmental recommendation is needed.

Because summa cum laude is typically the highest distinction of the three traditional Latin honors, it is typically reserved for only a few graduating students. Schools that award Latin honors based on GPA can see a varying number of summa cum laude graduates each year. There is often no set limit on how many can receive this honor if they meet the criteria.

Class Rank’s Role in Achieving Summa Cum Laude

Although GPA-based requirements for Latin honors are the most common throughout higher education institutions in the U.S., other factors may be included. One of these is class rank; some institutions reserve the summa cum laude title for students graduating at the highest levels of their class. In this case, GPA is a factor in determining whether a student receives this honor at graduation, but that student does not necessarily need to obtain a particular GPA to make that achievement.

As an example of how class rank-based Latin honors work in practice, graduates of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst must finish in the top 5% of the graduating class of a particular college and complete 45 credits to receive the summa cum laude designation. In other cases, Latin honors are dependent upon students' performance in specific classes, often either honors classes or those relevant to their major area of study.

For instance, students at the University of Notre Dame earn Latin honors within the college that oversees the students' major. Graduates must finish in the top 5% of the class to receive the summa cum laude distinction. Because class rank changes based on the performance of other students, the GPA changes each academic year. In 2023, students in the College of Arts & Letters at Notre Dame needed a 3.972 GPA to earn summa cum laude honors, while in 2019, they needed a 3.94.

Harvard’s Approach to Latin Honors

Harvard University is generally credited with being the first U.S. institute of higher education to bestow Latin honors at graduation.

Harvard's Latin honors stand out from other institutions, historically and to the present day. Harvard faculty members consider candidates for summa cum laude in their field by weighing the student's grades in the courses for their major, the rigor of those courses, and a demonstration of the student's mastery of their field, such as a senior thesis and/or some type of written or oral examination.

Only students who graduate in the top 4-5% of their graduating class may earn summa cum laude honors in their field. Graduates earn summa cum laude over the entire university based on the 4-5% class rank, and Harvard sets standards for the academic year each May.

Special Considerations

In most colleges and universities, the large majority of undergraduates completing a bachelor's degree do not receive Latin honors of any kind. For those who do, these honors are likely to impact their future differently depending upon several factors, including their field of study, future interests, and more.

Some graduate schools, for example, are particularly focused on academic rank and GPA; top law schools are famous for their stringent GPA requirements. In other fields, academic honors may be less crucial to success.

For graduates entering the job market, a Latin honor listed on a resume could impress a potential employer, as it suggests higher intelligence, diligence, work ethic, and more. For other employers, though, a candidate's personality and skill set might be more important—or the fact that they graduated from a prestigious institution, like Harvard, regardless of how well they did there. Job listings often specify a B.A. or B.S. but rarely require a certain GPA or level of academic honors.

The Bottom Line

Summa cum laude is the highest honor awarded by educational institutions. It is given to students whose academic performance and mastery of their chosen field exceed that of nearly all other students in their class.