What is Summa Cum Laude?

Summa Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that translates to "with highest praise." It represents the absolute pinnacle of academic achievement at the university level. When you graduate Summa Cum Laude, you are telling the world that you didn't just pass your classes—you mastered them with exceptional consistency.

In the hierarchy of Latin Honors, it sits at the very top:

The tradition of Latin Honors dates back hundreds of years, originating in European universities during the Middle Ages. However, the specific three-tier system we recognize today—Summa, Magna, and Cum Laude—was popularized in the United States.

Harvard University was the first American institution to adopt this system in 1869. Before this, students were often ranked simply by numerical order (1st, 2nd, 3rd) or granted degrees without distinction. The shift to Latin distinctions allowed universities to recognize a broader group of elite scholars rather than just a single valedictorian.

Originally, these honors were awarded based on oral examinations or faculty votes. Today, they are almost exclusively determined by mathematical precision: your Cumulative GPA or your class rank percentile. This shift makes tracking your grades from freshman year onward critical.

The specific Summa Cum Laude GPA requirement varies by institution, but it is universally high. Unlike the Dean's List which resets every semester, Latin Honors are calculated based on your cumulative GPA over your entire college career.

Generally, you should aim for:

• 3.90 - 4.00 GPA: The standard for competitive universities.
• 3.80+: Common at larger state institutions with diverse majors.
• Class Rank: Some schools award it strictly to the top 1% or 5% of graduates, regardless of raw GPA.

Every school sets its own cutoffs. Some use hard GPA numbers, while others use percentiles that fluctuate yearly. Here is a comparison of major U.S. institutions:

Summa Cum Laude vs. Magna Cum Laude

The main difference between Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude is the level of prestige and difficulty. While "Magna" means "with great praise," "Summa" elevates that to "highest praise."

Listing Summa Cum Laude on your resume is highly recommended, especially for recent graduates with limited work experience. It signals strong work ethic, intelligence, and attention to detail.

Where to put it?

Place it in your Education section. It should be italicized or bolded for visibility, but keep the formatting consistent with the rest of your document.