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Latin Honors Calculator

Check whether your GPA earns cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude, and the GPA you need on your remaining credits to reach the next Latin honor.

Current cumulative GPA

Credits completed

Credits remaining

Cum laude minimum GPA

Magna cum laude minimum GPA

Summa cum laude minimum GPA

Highest GPA per course

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How it works

Honor = highest level whose minimum GPA ≤ your GPA · GPA needed = (target × (credits done + credits left) − current GPA × credits done) ÷ credits left

Latin honors are awarded at graduation for cumulative GPA. Common cutoffs on a 4.0 scale are 3.5 for cum laude (“with praise”), 3.7 for magna cum laude (“with great praise”) and 3.9 for summa cum laude (“with highest praise”), but every college sets its own: some use a percentage of the class (for example the top 5%, 10% and 15%), some require a thesis, and many require a minimum number of credits earned at the school. Enter your school’s cutoffs for an exact answer.

Worked example

With a 3.72 GPA after 90 credits and 30 credits to go, you qualify for Magna cum laude (minimum 3.70). Summa cum laude needs 3.90: the gap is 0.18, and you would need (3.90 × 120 − 3.72 × 90) ÷ 30 = 4.44 on the remaining credits — not reachable on a 4.0 scale, where your highest possible final GPA is 3.79.

Sources: Harvard College — Latin honors requirements · Britannica — Cum laude

Frequently asked questions

What GPA is cum laude?

Typically 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, with magna cum laude at 3.7 and summa cum laude at 3.9, though cutoffs vary by college and some schools use class percentiles instead.

What do cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude mean?

They are Latin for “with praise”, “with great praise” and “with highest praise”, the three levels of academic honors awarded at graduation.

Can I still reach summa cum laude?

Divide the extra quality points you need by your remaining credits. If the GPA you would need is above the maximum (usually 4.0), it is no longer mathematically possible.

Are Latin honors the same as the dean’s list?

No. The dean’s list recognizes a single term, while Latin honors are based on your cumulative GPA at graduation.

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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.