Magna Cum Laude Vs Summa Cum Laude | What GPA Is Summa Cum Laude?
Magna Cum Laude Vs Summa Cum Laude | What GPA Is Summa Cum Laude? If you’ve been to a college graduation ceremony, you’ve likely heard the terms cum laude, summa cum laude and magna cum laude. Latin phrase designated for different level of academic honor earned by a student.
The graduating seniors are eligible for cum laude designations on diplomas and transcripts if their complete academic records show at least 54 calculable credits at the University and meet the criteria listed below:
What is a Latin honor?
A Latin honor is one of three achievement awards typically bestowed at graduation ceremonies at schools, community colleges, colleges and universities. Each represents a certain level of academic achievement. Educational institutions use these awards to recognize individual students or the top 10-15% class percentage with excellence in academic coursework.
- summa cum laude: at least a 3.7 total GPA (grade point average) and a class rank in the 95th percentile or above in the student’s school or college.
- magna cum laude: at least a 3.4 total GPA (grade point average) and a class rank in the 85th percentile or above in the student’s school or college.
- cum laude: at least a 3.0 total GPA (grade point average) and a class rank in the 75th percentile or above in the student’s school or college.
Here we will be explaining what each of the Latin honors requires and further explore the differences between magna cum laude and summa cum laude, including the grade point average (GPA) needed for each.
magna cum laude GPA vs. summa cum laude GPA
The main difference between these levels of educational achievement is your GPA. The GPA requirement for each one varies from school to school and program, but we can give you some general rules of thumb for GPAs and how they correlate with Latin honors.
- magna cum laude students are typically expected to score somewhere between 3.8 and 3.9.
- cum laude students generally have a GPA of 3.5 to 3.7.
- summa cum laude students will have a 4.0 or higher GPA.
You have to note that the graduation honor designations depend on the GPA of each school or college and that the cut-off points are determined on a yearly basis.
What Is summa cum laude?
summa cum laude is the very top of the class and the highest Latin title given to the best achievers. If you want to wow and impress people with your academic superpowers, then you’re going to be shooting for the summa cum laudedesignation. Many schools require at least a 4.0 GPA to be given this title, and roughly the top one to five percent of your class will achieve it. That might not even be enough in some schools or programs. If that’s the case, you’ll have to take honors or advanced level classes to earn a high enough weighted GPA.
What Is cum laude?
Graduating With Honor means graduating cum laude. What does cum laude mean? Translators define cum laude as With Praise. Cum laude honors, graduated with honors, graduation honors, and graduate cum laude all involve a high GPA. As a cum laude graduate, you have a GPA that sets you apart as above-average students, but you haven’t earned A’s across the board. It is typically granted to the top 20-30% of students.
What Is magna cum laude?
magna cum laude comes right below summa cum laude in the Latin hierarchy of honors. Typically, you can earn this distinction if you get all A’s with only one or two exceptions. If you think the rankings aren’t all that important, you’ll probably be just as happy with the magna cum laude title.
Graduating With Honors Requirements:
Graduation with honors cum laude requirements vary. Cum laude grade point average estimates: gpa for cum laude – 3.5 to 3.7; gpa for magna cum laude – 3.8 to 3.9; gpa for summa cum laude – 4.0+. Magna cum laude gpa and summa cum laude gpa can tie, broken by additional factors.
What is an Honors Convocation?
Some high school and college graduation honors invoke the honor roll (sometimes misspelled as “honor role”) with initiation ceremonies or induction. Such ceremonies often involve honor cords, honor stoles, or an honor medallion. High schools usually forgo an initiation ceremony and present the honor cords and other items along with the graduation gowns.
Other academic honors that maybe awarded by your University/College
1. Academic distinction
Schools base this award on how many courses you complete for credit and letter grade. Students who earn a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA in their courses may earn the academic distinction while students who earn a 4.0 GPA may earn the highest academic distinction.
2. Valedictorian and salutatorian
These are two of the highest possible honors you can earn upon graduation. You can become salutatorian if you are the student with the second highest academic achievements. If you are the highest-achieving student, you will earn the title of Valedictorian.
3. Chancellor’s scholars
This honor is for incoming students. It’s a scholarship for students who earned good grades during high school.
4. Dean’s list
This is an academic distinction that recognizes the highest-achieving students at an institution. This award is usually only for full-time students who earn a high GPA. It may be based on your cumulative GPA throughout your college career.
5. Honor students
Those who work on special projects or enroll in honors courses may receive this designation. Honors courses are higher-level courses that cover more material than regular courses.
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