Introduction: Reaching the Pinnacle of Academic Achievement
Summa cum laude is an honorary title used by educational institutions to signify a degree that was earned with the highest distinction. It indicates the greatest distinction of three commonly used types of academic honors recognized in the United States, expressed in Latin. The other two are magna cum laude and cum laude, representing degrees earned “with great distinction” and “with distinction,” respectively.
The guidelines under which students achieve each level of academic honor differ from institution to institution. High schools across the United States are increasingly including Latin honors for students upon graduation. Though Latin honors are quite common in the United States, very few other countries around the world use the system.
Key Takeaways: Why Summa Cum Laude Stands Out
- Summa cum laude is the highest of three Latin honors that may be bestowed upon students earning a bachelor’s degree.
- Summa cum laude is a greater honor than magna cum laude or cum laude.
- Criteria for the summa cum laude may include GPA, class rank, hours and special projects (i.e., senior thesis) completed, and recommendations from an academic department.
- Different institutions will select summa cum laude criteria differently.
- Latin honors are impressive, but it’s impossible to know how critical they are in landing a job.
Understanding Summa Cum Laude
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.
Criteria for Latin honors may include grade point average (GPA), class rank, number of hours completed, and honors designations from an academic department.
Every university or college outlines its expectations for each program. Some higher education institutions do not bestow Latin-termed honors at all. Others, like Stanford University, have a separate set of non-Latin honorary titles (such as “with Distinction”) that are typically seen as roughly equivalent to the traditional Latin titles.
GPA-Based Requirements
Many institutions use cumulative grade point averages (GPA) to determine who graduates with a summa cum laude designation. For instance, students at an example university might need to complete 60 credit hours toward graduation in addition to a GPA of 3.90 or higher. In contrast, another institution might require students to have a 3.95 GPA and have completed 90 quarter hours; they may also need to submit a senior thesis or complete a senior project.
Because summa cum laude is typically the highest distinction of the three traditional Latin honors, it is generally reserved for only a few graduating students. For institutions selecting students for Latin honors based on GPA requirements, the number of individuals receiving summa cum laude honors may vary from year to year.
Summa Cum Laude and Class Rank
Although GPA-based requirements for Latin honors are the most common, other factors may also be considered. One of these is class rank; some institutions reserve the summa cum laude title for students graduating at the highest levels of their class.
For instance, graduates of an example university 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 depend on students’ performance in specific classes, often either honors classes or those relevant to their major area of study.
Example: Harvard’s Prestigious Latin Honors
Harvard University is generally credited with being the first U.S. institute of higher education to bestow Latin honors at graduation. Harvard faculty members consider candidates for summa cum laude by weighing the student’s grades in 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 or some type of written or oral examination.
Only students who graduate in the top 4-5% of their class may earn summa cum laude honors. Harvard College introduced two Latin honors in 1869—cum laude and summa cum laude. Magna cum laude followed in 1880. The May 2023 point cutoff for summa cum laude honors at Harvard was a GPA of 3.986.
Special Considerations
Most undergraduates do not receive Latin honors of any kind. However, these honors may impact a graduate’s future differently depending on various factors, including their field of study and career goals. Some graduate schools are particularly focused on academic rank and GPA.
For graduates entering the job market, a Latin honor listed on a resume could impress a potential employer, as it suggests higher intelligence, diligence, and work ethic. For other employers, though, a candidate’s skill set and personality may matter more, or simply the fact that they graduated from a prestigious institution.
What GPA Is Summa Cum Laude?
The GPA required by universities for summa cum laude varies, but the distinction generally also requires that students earn grades within the highest percentage of their class or department or have achieved some other metric that the school considers worthy of the highest recognition.
What Is Higher, Summa or Magna?
Summa is higher than magna. “Magna cum laude” is Latin for “with great distinction.” “Summa cum laude” translates as “with the highest distinction.” Cum laude or “with distinction” is third.
How Do You List an Honors Degree on a Resume?
An honors degree is often listed directly after your degree, separated by a comma. If you include your major or field of study, it could come after that: B.A. in History, magna cum laude. If it is a Latin title, like summa cum laude, the honors degree should be in lowercase letters and italics.
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 field.
Related Terms: Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude, Class Rank, University GPA, Graduation Honors.
References
- Stanford University. “Undergraduate Honors”.
- University of New Mexico. “Awards & Honors”.
- Denver University. “Degrees with Honors”.
- University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Latin Honors Information”.
- University of Notre Dame. “Previous Latin Honors”.
- University of Notre Dame. “Current Latin Honors”.
- Harvard University. “Student Handbook Academic Year 2023-2024”. Page 33.
- Harvard University. “Requirements for Honors Degrees”.
