What is a Cum Laude GPA?

There is no standard set of criteria for these honors, meaning that it isn’t just high grades that will get you there. It usually also includes extra activities and general dedication to studying. The fields of finance, management, consulting, and engineering pursue graduates who have obtained magna cum laude. In finance, holding this distinction is preferred for an equity research analyst, in either the buy-side and sell-side. An equity analyst is usually the investment bankers’ and brokers’ go-to-person for expertise.

It is widely understood in both the academic and employment worlds that they are bestowed on only a select number of students and represent a badge of excellence. The student’s college record usually shows the honors earned upon graduating. The University of California-Berkeley states the honor level a student achieves appears on his permanent transcript. In general, Latin honors apply to undergraduate studies as opposed to graduate work. Latin honors normally occur separately from departmental distinctions, honors within a major and dean’s lists. Only a tiny percentage of students earn the distinction of summa cum laude, making it a highly coveted achievement.

Magna Cum Laude

For instance, to be awarded summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, students must have a 3.8 GPA or higher. Some schools also require students to garner faculty recommendations, finish a certain number of advanced courses, and/or write an honors thesis. Magna cum laude (“with high distinction”) is next in terms of prestige and represents a high level of achievement. It’s also important to note that even if you have perfect grades, you can disqualify yourself from earning Latin honors by having academic or disciplinary infractions on your record. A Cum Laude GPA is the most common honor given to students and is the equivalent to a GPA score between 3.5 and 3.7.

• However, requirements differ from one school to another, which is decided by how popular or prestigious the high school is, and which universities students will proceed to go on to.
• The GPA requirement for qualifying for cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude varies from school to school and program.
• For instance, to be awarded summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, students must have a 3.8 GPA or higher.
• The expression magna cum laude has its second-highest value, and subsequent to the notation, summa cum laude is the highest level of distinction.

Magna cum laude, however, is awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 or above. In the US, “summa cum laude” and “magna cum laude” have identical meanings for collegiate excellence. In Switzerland, the degrees rite, cum laude, magna cum laude, insigni cum laude (“distinguished with praise”), and summa cum laude are used, but the exact GPA corresponding to each varies by institution. In fact, over the last two decades roughly 42%–48% of students at Princeton have been awarded one of these distinctions.

When Does Magna Cum Laude Matter?

That can be the difference between an A+ in a class and a standard A. That’s not a big difference in grades, but it might be worth doing some extra work to ensure that your grades are on track so you can get the recognition you want. The guidelines by which each level of academic honors is achieved differs between academic institutions; however, every university or college outlines its expectations for each program. Although Latin honors are quite common in the United States, very few countries around the world use the Latin system.

Summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude are honors that are awarded at graduation to students who have achieved a high grade point average or other measure of academic excellence. They are used at colleges, universities, and some high schools in the United States and other countries and can be important for getting a job in certain industries. The program provides exceptional undergraduate students an opportunity to pursue individual excellence.

How Schools Decide on summa cum laude Requirements

Please be aware that doctoral graduates are individually recognized at the Graduate Commencement for their remarkable achievement. The doctorate represents the highest level of educational attainment, and these students are recognized during the Commencement magna cumme laude gpa by having their names called, along with a special hooding process conducted by their faculty. In this article, we’ll work through what each term means, what you need to do to earn each one, and how to put your designation on your resume.

After that, experience and work accomplishments play a much larger role, as well as references from past supervisors and colleagues. Essentially, a magna cum laude degree signals to a first or second employer that a candidate is capable of working hard and successfully. Only Baylor University residence credit will be considered in calculating these averages. Credit by examination does not count as residence work toward honors. Immediately succeeding the distinction of magna cum laude is the distinction of cum laude, which means “with honor”. Critics of Latin honors are less concerned with their potential post-graduation benefits than the unintended effect they may have on students while they’re still in school.

What is the Average GPA?

It could also be an essential element in your entire body of professional work and lead to a higher income level in the long run. These rules change from school to school, but most will take behavioral issues into account in some capacity when they’re conferring these honors. While we’d like to give one set of guidelines, there can even be some variation even between departments within a university. There is no universal answer to this question, as the meaning of these terms can vary from school to school.

Therefore, it is important for a candidate to be well equipped with the academic skills and knowledge. Although academic achievements do not always guarantee success in the workplace, a magna cum laude honor is an advantage that can help a candidate make his or her first step towards career success. Magna cum laude is the #2 honor of distinction, following immediately after the Summa Cum Laude. The summa cum laude distinction means “of (or with) the highest honors”, and is sometimes only awarded to one individual per batch of graduating students.