Understanding Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude GPA Thresholds
Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude are the three tiers of Latin honors that US colleges and universities award to undergraduate students who graduate with exceptional academic records. The terms come from the Latin phrases meaning “with honor,” “with great honor,” and “with highest honor,” respectively. These honors appear permanently on the graduate’s official transcript and diploma, signal exceptional academic performance to employers and graduate school admissions officers, and are among the most recognized academic distinctions in the US higher education system.
The GPA thresholds for each tier are set by the individual institution and vary considerably across the country. The most common standard at US public universities is: Cum Laude at 3.50 or above, Magna Cum Laude at 3.70 or above, and Summa Cum Laude at 3.90 or above on the standard 4.0 scale. However, some institutions use 3.40, 3.60, and 3.80 as their respective thresholds, some use 3.5, 3.75, and 3.9, and some elite schools (including several Ivy League institutions) award Latin honors based on class rank percentile rather than a fixed GPA threshold. Always verify which system your specific institution uses by consulting the academic catalog, the registrar’s office, or the Dean of Students office, and use the custom threshold fields in this calculator to enter your school’s exact standards.
The Standard US Latin Honors GPA Scale: 3.5, 3.7, and 3.9
The 3.5 / 3.7 / 3.9 threshold structure is used at the majority of US public universities and many private colleges. On the standard 4.0 scale: a 3.50 GPA represents approximately a B-plus average, 3.70 is between B-plus and A-minus, and 3.90 represents a near-perfect A average with very few grade deviations from A’s. These thresholds were designed to distinguish the top academic performers in a graduating class into three meaningfully different tiers: strong achievers (Cum Laude), exceptional achievers (Magna), and near-perfect achievers (Summa).
The gap between tiers is typically 0.20 grade points. This 0.20-point spacing reflects approximately two semesters of consistent performance at one grade level above or below the threshold. For example, a student at a 3.68 cumulative GPA who needs to reach the Magna Cum Laude threshold of 3.70 needs to raise their average by 0.02 points, which, depending on how many credits remain, may require just a fraction of a grade point of improvement in remaining courses. The proximity calculators in this tool show exactly how many grade points separate your current GPA from each threshold and what remaining-credit GPA you need to close the gap.
Why US Universities Set Different Cum Laude Thresholds for Different Programs
The variation in Latin honors thresholds across US institutions and even across programs within the same institution reflects meaningful differences in grading culture, course rigor, and class size. Engineering and science programs, which have historically stricter grading curves and more technically demanding coursework than some humanities programs, often use lower thresholds (3.4/3.6/3.8) to reflect that strong performance in highly rigorous courses is less likely to produce a 3.9 cumulative GPA than equally strong performance in programs with more generous grading curves. Business schools sometimes apply program-specific GPA thresholds that differ from the university’s general threshold, particularly at schools with large enrollments where class rank-based systems become impractical.
At institutions that use class rank percentile rather than a fixed GPA (Harvard awards Cum Laude to roughly the top 60% of the class, Summa to roughly the top 5%), the actual GPA required to earn the honor shifts each year depending on the entire graduating class’s performance. In particularly strong academic years, a 3.90 GPA might not guarantee Summa at such schools, while in other years a slightly lower GPA might qualify. The US Department of Education does not standardize Latin honors thresholds across institutions, so each school’s academic catalog is the definitive source for the exact criteria that apply to any specific graduation year.
Does Graduating Cum Laude Actually Help Your Career or Graduate School Application?
Yes, in measurable ways, though the impact varies significantly by field and the type of opportunity being pursued. For competitive positions in consulting, investment banking, accounting, and law (both at major firms and through prestigious graduate programs), Latin honors on a transcript are a meaningful differentiator at the resume screening stage. Many large employers and graduate programs that filter applications by GPA use 3.5 as a threshold, meaning Cum Laude graduation signals you meet or exceed that threshold without the employer needing to look up the GPA separately. For medical school applications, the GPA is a primary sorting criterion, and a Summa Cum Laude distinction typically corresponds to the 3.9+ GPA range that makes applicants competitive at US allopathic medical schools.
For graduate school applications specifically, Latin honors serve as a compressed signal of undergraduate academic strength. A graduate admissions committee reading thousands of applications can quickly understand that a “Summa Cum Laude, University of Michigan” transcript reflects an exceptional undergraduate record without reading every course grade individually. For employment in industries where GPA is less explicitly relevant (creative fields, entrepreneurship, many technology companies), Latin honors matter less and may receive minimal weight in hiring decisions. The strongest long-term value of Latin honors may be in professional licensing exams, academic job markets, and competitive fellowship applications, where academic excellence is a direct selection criterion. Graduating Cum Laude does not guarantee any specific outcome, but in credentials-conscious environments it provides a recognized shorthand for sustained academic excellence.
How to Calculate If You Qualify for Cum Laude at Graduation
Latin honors are awarded at graduation based on the cumulative GPA at the time the degree is conferred, calculated across all credits completed and included in the GPA calculation at that institution. The formula: if your school awards Cum Laude to students with a 3.50 or above cumulative GPA, you qualify if your cumulative GPA on graduation day meets or exceeds 3.50. The calculation uses the standard credit-weighted average: total quality points divided by total credit hours.
Knowing your current cumulative GPA is not enough to confirm Latin honors eligibility if you still have coursework remaining. You need to project what your cumulative GPA will be when all remaining courses are completed. This calculator computes the required average GPA in remaining credits using the formula: Required Remaining GPA = (Target GPA x Total Credits) minus (Current GPA x Credits Completed), divided by Remaining Credits. For example: a student with a 3.68 cumulative GPA after 90 credits who wants to graduate Magna Cum Laude (3.70 threshold) from a 120-credit degree program needs: (3.70 x 120 – 3.68 x 90) / 30 = (444 – 331.2) / 30 = 112.8 / 30 = 3.76 average in the remaining 30 credits. The student needs to average just below an A-minus across their last 30 credits to cross the Magna threshold at graduation.
Important nuances: some institutions calculate Latin honors using only grades from courses completed at that institution (not transferred credits). Others include all courses on the transcript regardless of source. Some exclude courses taken Pass/Fail. Graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate may be included or excluded depending on school policy. Verify your school’s specific policy before relying on this calculator’s projection as a definitive eligibility determination.
3 Cum Laude Calculation Examples: Close Call, Clear Qualifier, and Last-Semester Push
Example 1: The Close Call for Magna Cum Laude
Student: Elena, a junior at a state university with 90 credits completed, a 3.68 cumulative GPA, and 30 credits remaining. Her school’s Magna Cum Laude threshold is 3.70.
Current status: Qualifies for Cum Laude (3.68 is above 3.50) but falls 0.02 below the Magna threshold.
Required GPA in remaining 30 credits for Magna: (3.70 x 120 – 3.68 x 90) / 30 = (444 – 331.2) / 30 = 112.8 / 30 = 3.76. An A-minus average in her final 30 credits gets her across the Magna threshold.
Required GPA for Summa (3.90 threshold): (3.90 x 120 – 3.68 x 90) / 30 = (468 – 331.2) / 30 = 136.8 / 30 = 4.56. Above 4.0, so Summa is mathematically impossible from her current position in the standard 4.0 scale.
Elena’s plan: maintain her existing performance and push for A’s in two or three specific final courses to secure Magna. The calculator’s “Eligible for Magna” indicator turns green at exactly 3.76 remaining average. She is currently on the Cum Laude side of the Magna threshold, and even modest grade improvement in her final semester closes the gap.
Example 2: The Comfortable Summa Qualifier
Student: Marcus, a senior with 108 credits completed, a 3.94 cumulative GPA, 12 credits remaining, and a school Summa threshold of 3.90.
Current status: Summa Cum Laude. His current GPA of 3.94 already exceeds the 3.90 Summa threshold.
Minimum GPA needed in final 12 credits to maintain Summa: (3.90 x 120 – 3.94 x 108) / 12 = (468 – 425.52) / 12 = 42.48 / 12 = 3.54. Marcus needs only a B-plus average in his final semester to guarantee Summa at graduation. Even with a difficult final course load, a 3.54 average (a mix of A’s, B-pluses, and even one B) safely protects his Summa standing.
This example illustrates an important point: students who have strong GPA cushions late in their degree are often much more protected than they realize. The “GPA to maintain” calculation is as important as the “GPA to reach” calculation for students already above a threshold.
Example 3: The Last-Semester Push From Below Cum Laude
Student: Jordan, a senior with 105 credits completed, a 3.46 cumulative GPA, and 15 credits remaining. Their school’s Cum Laude threshold is 3.50.
Required GPA in final 15 credits for Cum Laude: (3.50 x 120 – 3.46 x 105) / 15 = (420 – 363.3) / 15 = 56.7 / 15 = 3.78. Jordan needs a strong A-minus to B-plus average across all 5 final courses to graduate Cum Laude. This is challenging but achievable with focused effort.
What happens if Jordan earns a 3.50 semester GPA? New cumulative GPA = (3.46 x 105 + 3.50 x 15) / 120 = (363.3 + 52.5) / 120 = 415.8 / 120 = 3.465. Still below the 3.50 threshold. A semester GPA of exactly 3.50 is not enough because the cumulative anchor (105 credits at 3.46) pulls the average down. Jordan must outperform the threshold, not just match it, in the final semester.
3 Strategies for Reaching Cum Laude Before Your Last Semester
📌 Strategy 1: Run the Numbers Each Semester and Plan Backward From Graduation
The most common mistake students make with Latin honors goals is not running the math until their final year when the cumulative weight of prior grades makes dramatic GPA changes very difficult. By contrast, students who check their honors eligibility each semester can identify the exact GPA they need in the next semester’s courses to stay on or reach a target tier, and they can make specific course selection and study priority decisions based on that number. A student who is 0.08 below the Magna threshold with 60 credits remaining has roughly 2.5 years of coursework to close that gap with gradual improvement. The same student with only 15 credits remaining needs to average nearly 4.0 to close the same gap, which may be mathematically impossible. Running the eligibility calculation each semester using this tool keeps the target visible and the timeline concrete. Use the Mode 1 results panel after each semester’s grades post to update your current GPA, remaining credits, and required performance in the next semester before selecting courses for the upcoming term.
📊 Strategy 2: Identify and Prioritize Your Highest-Impact Remaining Courses
Not all remaining courses contribute equally to your cumulative GPA. Higher-credit courses (4-credit labs, 5-credit science sequences, 6-credit language intensives) move the cumulative average more per grade point earned than 1-credit electives or 2-credit seminars. If you have a 4-credit calculus class and a 1-credit fitness elective remaining, earning an A in calculus produces four times the quality point impact of earning an A in the fitness course. Use this credit-hour weighting insight to prioritize study time and effort. When selecting remaining courses: if you are slightly below a Latin honors threshold, consider whether any open elective slots can be filled with courses in subjects where your historical performance is strongest. This is not about taking easy courses but about matching genuine strengths to the courses that carry the most cumulative GPA weight. Discuss with your academic advisor whether any remaining required courses could be taken in a less demanding semester (for example, a heavy research elective in a lighter semester instead of paired with other demanding coursework).
🎓 Strategy 3: Check Your School’s Policy on Transfer Credits and GPA Calculation
Many students are surprised to find that their institution calculates Latin honors GPA using a narrower set of credits than they expect. The most common restriction: transfer credits from other institutions appear on the transcript but are excluded from the GPA calculation used for Latin honors. Only courses taken and graded at the degree-granting institution count. If you transferred from a community college with a 3.8 transfer GPA, those grades typically do not help your Latin honors cumulative GPA at the receiving four-year institution. The honors calculation begins fresh from your first graded course at the new school. This means transfer students with fewer total credits completed at the four-year school have both a smaller GPA anchor (making individual semester performance more impactful) and less time to build toward the threshold. Some schools also exclude courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis, independent study credits above a certain limit, or remedial coursework from the honors GPA calculation. Confirming the exact scope of the GPA calculation used for Latin honors at your institution is essential before relying on any calculator’s projection, including this one. The National Center for Education Statistics publishes general US graduation statistics, but institution-specific policies are only available from your school’s academic catalog.
Common Cum Laude Questions: Thresholds, Recognition, and Transfer Credits
What GPA do you need for Cum Laude?▼
At most US colleges and universities, Cum Laude requires a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above on the standard 4.0 scale. This is the most common threshold across US public universities. Some schools use 3.40 as their Cum Laude minimum, particularly engineering and science programs where grading is traditionally stricter. Some private colleges set their threshold at 3.60. A few elite schools, including several Ivy League institutions, award Cum Laude based on class rank percentile (typically the top 60% of the graduating class) rather than a fixed GPA threshold. Check your school’s academic catalog or contact your registrar to confirm the exact threshold and calculation method that applies to your graduating class.
What is the difference between Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude?▼
The three Latin honors represent three distinct tiers of academic achievement at graduation. Cum Laude (“with honor”) is the entry tier, typically awarded to students in the 3.50 to 3.69 GPA range. Magna Cum Laude (“with great honor”) is the middle tier, typically for students in the 3.70 to 3.89 range. Summa Cum Laude (“with highest honor”) is the top tier, typically for students with 3.90 or above. At schools using class rank, Cum Laude covers a larger percentage of graduates (often the top 30 to 60%), while Summa is reserved for a small fraction (typically the top 3 to 5%). All three distinctions appear on the official transcript and are included on the diploma. The relative prestige reflects both the tier and the institution: a Summa Cum Laude from a large competitive state university and a Summa from a small liberal arts college both signal exceptional academic performance, but in contexts where the institution’s rigor is known, the level of achievement required for each distinction is interpreted accordingly.
Does Cum Laude appear on your diploma and transcript?▼
Yes. At US universities that award Latin honors, the distinction appears on both the official transcript and the diploma itself. The diploma typically includes the Latin phrase below or near the degree title (“Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude”). The official transcript typically lists the Latin honor designation alongside the degree conferral date. Some universities also announce the distinction at the commencement ceremony and list it in the graduation program. The honor is a permanent part of the academic record and can be referenced on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, job applications, and graduate school applications for the rest of the graduate’s professional life. There is no expiration date or renewal requirement for Latin honors once awarded at graduation.
Do transfer credits count toward Cum Laude GPA?▼
At most US four-year institutions, transfer credits from other schools appear on the transcript but are not included in the institutional GPA calculation used for Latin honors. The Latin honors designation is awarded based on GPA calculated from courses taken at the degree-granting institution only. This is a significant factor for transfer students who completed their first two years at a community college: the grades from that community college typically do not count toward the honors GPA at the receiving four-year school. Some institutions have begun including transfer GPA in cumulative calculations to address this inequity, but it is not the universal standard. A few schools calculate a blended GPA that includes transfer credits for some purposes but not for Latin honors specifically. Verify your institution’s transfer credit policy for honors calculation before planning your strategy. If your institution excludes transfer credits, focus exclusively on the GPA from courses completed at your current school, which is the number this calculator uses when you enter your current cumulative GPA from your institutional transcript.
Do Pass/Fail courses affect Latin honors eligibility?▼
Typically no. Courses taken on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis are not included in the GPA calculation at most US institutions, which means they neither help nor hurt the cumulative GPA used for Latin honors determination. A student who takes a challenging course Pass/Fail and earns a passing grade receives the credit hours but generates zero quality points in either direction. This is relevant for Latin honors planning: if you take courses Pass/Fail in your final year to protect your GPA from a potentially risky elective, those courses will not add to your quality point total and your remaining-credit GPA calculation will be based only on the letter-graded courses. However, some schools cap the number of Pass/Fail courses that can count toward degree requirements, and some schools include Pass/Fail courses differently depending on when and why they were taken (many schools temporarily expanded Pass/Fail policies during the pandemic years 2020 to 2022, and how those courses are treated for honors purposes varies by school and graduation year). Confirm your school’s specific policy for any courses with non-standard grading.
Can you lose Latin honors eligibility after you’ve qualified?▼
Yes. Latin honors are awarded based on the final cumulative GPA at the time of graduation, not at any earlier point in the academic career. A student who is above the Summa Cum Laude threshold entering their final semester but earns poor grades in that semester can drop below the threshold and graduate with Magna, Cum Laude, or no Latin honor, depending on how far the final semester GPA drops the cumulative average. This is why the “minimum GPA to maintain” calculation in this tool is as important as the “required GPA to reach” calculation. Once the degree is officially conferred and the GPA is locked on the transcript, the Latin honor cannot be revoked. Some institutions have a brief correction period during which grade changes from the final semester are factored in before diplomas are printed, but after the final record is sealed, the designation is permanent. Plan your final semester with a concrete target for the minimum performance needed to protect your current honor tier, and use this calculator to see that number before each final exam period.
Is Cum Laude the same as graduating with distinction?▼
Not always, but often. Some US universities use “with distinction” or “with departmental honors” as alternative phrasing for the same academic achievement, while others use both Latin honors and distinction designations to recognize different types of achievement. At schools that use “with distinction” instead of Latin honors, the GPA threshold is usually similar (3.50 or above for the lowest tier). At schools that use both designations, Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna, Summa) typically refer to overall cumulative GPA achievement, while “with distinction” or “with departmental honors” refers to completion of a specific senior thesis, honors project, or departmental honors program with a GPA requirement within the major. A student can potentially graduate Magna Cum Laude (overall GPA distinction) with departmental honors in Economics (project-based distinction) simultaneously, as these recognize different dimensions of academic achievement. Check your school’s academic catalog to see which designation system is used and how each type of honor is earned.
Do graduate schools care about Latin honors?▼
Yes, particularly at the initial screening stage. Most graduate program applications request an undergraduate GPA, and many have explicit GPA minimum requirements (typically 3.0 for master’s programs, 3.3 to 3.5 for doctoral programs). Latin honors serve as a verified summary of that GPA: Cum Laude signals at least a 3.5, Magna signals at least a 3.7, and Summa signals at least a 3.9, which immediately tells the admissions reader where the applicant falls relative to their GPA requirements without needing to look up the specific number. For the most competitive graduate programs in law (top-14 law schools), medicine (USNWR top-25 allopathic schools), business (M7 MBA programs), and academic PhD programs in competitive fields, a Summa or Magna designation from a well-regarded undergraduate institution signals competitive academic preparation. These programs also look at LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, or GRE scores and research experience alongside GPA, so Latin honors alone do not determine admission. However, they serve as a meaningful positive signal in a comprehensive review process where every element of the file contributes to the overall assessment.
What GPA do you need for Summa Cum Laude?▼
At most US universities using the standard threshold system, Summa Cum Laude requires a 3.90 cumulative GPA or above. Some schools use 3.85, some use 3.95, and a few require a 4.0 (straight-A average) for Summa. At schools using class rank percentile rather than a fixed GPA threshold, Summa is typically awarded to the top 3 to 5% of the graduating class, which in competitive academic environments might correspond to a 3.92 or 3.95 GPA in a given year. A 3.90 GPA on the 4.0 scale represents a near-perfect academic record: across 120 credits, a 3.90 cumulative GPA allows for approximately 12 quality points of deviation from 4.0, which corresponds to roughly four courses where the student earned a B-plus instead of an A, spread across four years of study. Achieving and maintaining Summa Cum Laude is one of the most demanding academic standards in US undergraduate education and represents exceptional consistency across an entire degree program.
How do I know my school’s exact Latin honors thresholds?▼
The most reliable sources are: (1) your school’s current undergraduate academic catalog (typically available on the registrar’s website as a PDF or searchable online), (2) the registrar’s office, which can confirm the current-year policy directly, and (3) the Dean of Students or Dean of Academic Affairs office. When searching the catalog, look under sections titled “Academic Honors,” “Graduation Honors,” “Latin Honors,” or “Academic Distinctions.” Be sure to check the policy for your specific school or college within the university if you are enrolled in a specialized program (business, engineering, nursing, education) that may have different thresholds than the general university policy. Some universities update their thresholds periodically, so confirm the policy applies to your expected graduation year, not just a prior catalog. Enter your school’s confirmed thresholds in the three threshold fields in Mode 1 of this calculator to replace the default 3.5/3.7/3.9 values with your institution’s actual standards.
Does Cum Laude matter for jobs that do not look at GPA?▼
Less directly, but it may still influence outcomes in less obvious ways. Industries and roles that explicitly screen by GPA (many large law firms, consulting firms, investment banks, and accounting firms) use Latin honors as a direct filter. In other industries (technology product roles, creative fields, most small businesses, entrepreneurship), GPA and Latin honors typically receive minimal weight, and skills, portfolio, and experience matter more. However, Latin honors can indirectly matter even in fields that do not screen by GPA in two ways: first, through the graduate school application if you pursue a professional or graduate degree later in your career; second, through certain graduate-level scholarships and fellowships (Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, NSF GRFP) that explicitly consider undergraduate academic excellence as part of the selection criteria. If you are in a field where GPA is irrelevant to employment, Latin honors are unlikely to meaningfully change your early-career outcomes. In fields where academic credentials persist in relevance throughout the career (academia, certain government positions, licensed professions), the distinction on your transcript may remain visible and relevant longer than in skills-focused fields.
Can you graduate Cum Laude from an online degree program?▼
Yes. If the online degree program is offered by an accredited US institution that awards Latin honors, the same GPA thresholds and calculation methods apply to online degree students as to on-campus students. A student graduating with a 3.75 cumulative GPA from an accredited online bachelor’s degree program at a university that awards Magna Cum Laude to students with 3.70 or above would receive the Magna Cum Laude designation on their diploma and transcript in the same way as an on-campus student at the same institution with the same GPA. The distinction appears on the official transcript, and the graduating institution’s reputation and accreditation status are what lend the distinction credibility. Some employers may ask which modality the degree was completed in (online vs on-campus), but the Latin honors designation itself is awarded based on GPA, not delivery format. Verify that your specific online program at your specific institution is eligible for Latin honors by checking with the registrar, as some continuing education programs, certificate extensions, or non-degree programs within a university may not be eligible for Latin honors even if they share a name with the institution’s accredited degree programs.
What is the difference between Latin honors and Phi Beta Kappa?▼
Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna, Summa) are awarded automatically by the institution to any student whose cumulative GPA meets the threshold at graduation. No application, invitation, or additional criteria are required beyond meeting the GPA standard. Phi Beta Kappa, by contrast, is a separate honor society (the oldest in the US, founded in 1776) that extends invitations to students who meet both a GPA threshold (typically 3.80 or above) and additional requirements: specific coursework in arts and sciences, completion of foreign language and mathematics studies, and a demonstrated breadth of academic exploration across disciplines. Not all colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters (the organization grants charters selectively), so the award is not available to all students regardless of GPA. Phi Beta Kappa membership is invitation-only, meaning meeting the GPA threshold alone does not guarantee membership even at schools with chapters. Both Latin honors and Phi Beta Kappa appear on the resume and are recognized signals of undergraduate academic achievement, but they represent different dimensions: institutional GPA performance (Latin honors) vs chapter-invited academic breadth and distinction (Phi Beta Kappa).
Does the number of credits affect Latin honors eligibility?▼
Some US institutions require a minimum number of credits completed at the institution (not transferred from elsewhere) to be eligible for Latin honors. A common minimum is 60 credits, though 45 credits is also used. This requirement exists to ensure that the Latin honor reflects a substantial portion of work at the granting institution rather than being awarded primarily on the basis of transfer grades. A student who transfers in with 90 credits and completes only 30 credits at the four-year school may not be eligible for Latin honors even if their institutional GPA qualifies them by the threshold alone. Check your school’s catalog for any minimum credit residency requirement for Latin honors. If such a requirement exists, enter only the credits you have completed (and will complete) at your current institution in this calculator to get an accurate projection. The total degree credits field should reflect the number of credits your institution will count in your honors GPA calculation, which may differ from the total credits on your transcript if a residency requirement applies.
How accurate is this cum laude GPA calculator?▼
This calculator uses the standard US credit-weighted GPA average formula and Big.js precision arithmetic. The results are mathematically exact for the inputs provided. Accuracy relative to your actual honors eligibility depends on: (1) whether you have entered your institution’s correct GPA thresholds (the defaults of 3.5/3.7/3.9 are common but not universal), (2) whether your institution’s honors GPA calculation includes the same courses and credits you have entered (transfer credit exclusions, Pass/Fail exclusions, and residency requirements can affect the scope), and (3) whether the GPA you entered is the cumulative GPA your institution will use for honors determination (some schools calculate a separate honors GPA that may differ from the overall GPA on your unofficial transcript). For official eligibility confirmation, always consult your registrar’s office. Use this calculator as a planning and projection tool to understand your progress and set realistic targets for remaining coursework, not as an official eligibility determination.
Does Cum Laude reset if you complete a second bachelor’s degree?▼
Yes. If you complete a second bachelor’s degree at the same institution or a different one, the Latin honors for that degree are awarded independently based on the GPA for that degree program. Latin honors earned on your first bachelor’s degree remain on that original transcript permanently and are not affected by grades in your second degree program. If your second degree program results in a different GPA, you might graduate the second time with a different honors tier (or none), and both designations appear on their respective transcripts. Some institutions use a blended GPA including prior coursework at the same school for second degree calculations; others treat the second degree program as a fresh GPA calculation from a specific enrollment date. This is an unusual situation that varies significantly by institution, so if you are pursuing a second bachelor’s, confirm directly with your registrar how the GPA and honors eligibility are calculated for the second degree.
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Legal Disclaimer and Editorial Transparency
This calculator uses the standard credit-weighted GPA formula with Big.js precision arithmetic. Default thresholds of 3.50 / 3.70 / 3.90 reflect the most common US public university standard; actual thresholds vary by institution and should be confirmed with your registrar. Latin honors policies, credit exclusions, and eligibility requirements differ across institutions. This tool is for planning and projection only and does not constitute an official eligibility determination. General US graduation statistics from nces.ed.gov. Phi Beta Kappa information from pbk.org. Last reviewed: August 2026.