Latin Honors GPA Calculator — Cum Laude, Magna, and Summa

Latin honors are awarded at graduation based on your cumulative GPA, with thresholds set by each college.

Latin honors are the cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude designations printed on a diploma. They are awarded on your cumulative GPA at graduation.

There is no national standard. Every college sets its own thresholds, and some set them by class rank instead of a fixed GPA, so the top few percent of the graduating class earn each level no matter what the raw numbers are.

Many schools also require a minimum number of credits earned at that institution, which means transfer credits and courses taken elsewhere may not count toward eligibility even though they appear on your transcript.

What Counts

Cum laude	Commonly around a 3.5 cumulative GPA
Magna cum laude	Commonly around a 3.7 cumulative GPA
Summa cum laude	Commonly around a 3.9 cumulative GPA
Residency credits	Most schools require a minimum of credits earned on campus
Class rank option	Some schools award by percentile instead of fixed GPA

Requirements change from year to year. Confirm the current rules with Your college registrar or academic catalog before you rely on them.

How to Calculate It

1Find your cumulative GPA across all coursework counted by your degree granting school.
2Check your college catalog for its published honors thresholds, since they vary widely.
3Confirm the residency credit requirement, especially if you transferred in credits.
4Use the Raise My GPA calculator to see how many credits of A work would move you to the next tier before graduation.

Run the Numbers

→ Weighted GPA

AP, IB, and honors bonuses

→ High School GPA

Weighted and unweighted

→ Raise My GPA

Credits needed to hit a target

Frequently Asked Questions

A 3.5 cumulative GPA is the most common threshold, but it is not universal. Schools that award honors by class rank instead may require a higher or lower GPA depending on how that year's class performed. Your college catalog is the only authoritative source for your school.

Usually the grades do not, even when the credits do. Most colleges calculate honors GPA using only coursework completed at the degree granting institution, and they also require a minimum number of those credits before you are eligible at all. Transfer students should ask the registrar early.

It depends on how many credits you have already earned. GPA moves slowly once you have a large credit total, so a senior sitting at 3.4 usually cannot reach 3.7 in two terms. Enter your real credit total in the Raise My GPA calculator to see what is mathematically possible.

Other GPA Rules

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