University of Maryland Policy on the Awarding of Latin Honors

The University of Maryland awards Latin Honors to recognize high-achieving undergraduate students for academic excellence over the course of the student’s undergraduate career. Summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude are the highest honors the University bestows to signify sustained excellence in scholarship.

1. The University bestows the Latin Honors of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude.
2. Latin Honors are awarded to the top ten (10) percent of all students graduating in each College or School, and are calculated based on the average cumulative GPAs of the previous academic year’s graduating classes from the specific College or School.
   1. Summa cum laude is awarded to students with a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than the highest two (2) percent of the GPAs;
   2. Magna cum laude is awarded to students with a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than the next highest three (3) percent; and
   3. Cum laude is awarded to students with a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than the next highest five (5) percent, as well as to all students with a cumulative GPA of 3.900 or greater who would not otherwise be eligible for a Latin Honor.

1. To be eligible for Latin Honors, students must have earned at least 60 semester hours either at the University or through a program in which credit earned is counted as University of Maryland resident credit, as defined by the Office of the Registrar.
2. No more than six (6) credits with pass/fail or satisfactory/fail grades will be counted towards the 60 semester hours minimum.
3. Coursework completed in a student’s final semester will be included in the calculation of Latin Honors.
4. No student with a GPA of less than 3.300 will be considered for Latin Honors.

1. The Office of the Registrar will calculate and publicize the minimum GPA cutoffs required in the current academic year for each Latin Honors level for each College or School.
2. While the minimum GPA cutoffs for Latin Honors will change from year to year, once calculated, they will remain static for the entire upcoming academic year and will not be recalculated during that academic year.
3. Since Latin Honors calculations include grades earned in a student’s final semester, Latin Honors will be annotated in the commencement program as tentative and unofficial pending the submission and calculation of all final grades for the semester of commencement.
4. Latin Honors will be recorded on the transcripts and diplomas of students who have earned the honors and who have graduated from the University.