Latin Honors
Current Latin Honors GPA cut-off
Latin Honors appearing on the diploma and final transcript are based on the final cumulative G.P.A. of the student. Student Latin Honors are inclusive of all semesters of attendance; however, the cutoffs are determined based on the following rules:
- Latin honors are granted by college/school to those undergraduate students who graduate in the top 30% of their college/school. Those who graduate in the top 30% of their college/school receive cum laude (honors); those in the top 15% of their college/school receive magna cum laude (high honors); and those in the top 5% of their college/school receive summa cum laude (highest honors).
- Latin honors cutoffs are determined by the Office of the Registrar in February for the upcoming May ceremony using (a) the final cumulative grade-point-averages for the undergraduates who receive a bachelor degree in January, and (b) the cumulative grade-point-average after the Fall semester for the May degree candidates. (Although honors are determined in Fall, a student's final Spring semester GPA must meet the criteria.)
- Using the cumulative grade-point-averages specified in (2), all students are ranked by college/school. The grade-point-average which represents the cut-off for the top 30%, 15%, and 5% in each college/school is identified.
- The Latin honors cut-offs are determined at the third decimal place and are not rounded up. (Example: If 3.591 is the 30% cut-off for a college, then a student in that college with a 3.590 would not receive Latin honors.)
- Within the same calendar year, January, May, and August graduates will utilize the same grade-point-average cut-offs. Hence, the established grade-point-average cut-offs will affect the students who just graduated in January, and the upcoming May and August graduates. (NOTE: January 2005 graduates are an exception to the aforementioned rule. The new Latin honors rule first affects students who entered in the fall of 2001 and graduate four years later in May 2005.)
- Transfer students follow the Latin honors rule of the class which they joined upon admission.
- Dual Degree undergraduates are eligible to earn Latin honors for each degree successfully completed.
Please contact your college dean's office for any interpretation questions you may have.
Current Academic Code can be found at: http://provost.nd.edu/information-for-faculty/faculty-handbook-academic-codes/
For undergraduate students who began before Fall 2001, the following Latin honors apply: In the undergraduate colleges, degrees will be granted with honors (cum laude) if the student has a 3.400 cumulative average; a 3.600 cumulative average is required for graduation with high honors (magna cum laude); and a 3.800 cumulative average is required for graduation with highest honors (summa cum laude).
Latin Honor cords
Undergraduate students will receive Latin honor cords based on their cumulative grade point average of their final semester. Students will receive notice prior to Commencement weekend from their undergraduate dean's office to pick up the cord. The Latin Honor cords are royal blue and gold braided.