Magna cum laude is a Latin phrase that means “with great honor,” and it is a title given to students who have achieved sustained academic success. Latin honors are usually reserved for undergraduate university degrees, though they can also be found in high schools and graduate programs. Because there is no universal standard for determining who deserves honors and who does not, a magna cum laude award can mean different things depending on the institution. The distinction is most commonly used in the United States, but it can also be found in other countries.
Honored Status
Latin honors are usually divided into three levels. Cum laude, which means “with honor,” is the first and most basic. The prestigious summa cum laude — “with highest honor” — comes next, followed by the “magna” distinction. One of these three distinctions is usually given to students who graduate at the top of their class.
Distinction and Announcement
The magna cum laude award is usually announced alongside other honors and awards at graduation. To signal their achievement to others, students who receive this honor often wear a special rope or cord on their graduation gown. Being able to say that one has graduated magna cum laude is a lifetime distinction that can attract attention on resumes and graduate school applications, particularly if the award comes from a prestigious university.
Methods of Calculation
Latin honors are usually given based on cumulative grade point average, though individual schools are usually free to set their own standards. Students who graduate with a “summa cum laude” typically have near-perfect grades throughout their academic careers. A magna graduate may have a few blemishes on their transcripts, but they are generally thought to be among the school’s best academic performers.
Although most Latin honors are given to students based on their performance in comparison to others in their graduating class, some departments will award separate honors within a degree program. Even if her overall grades were not high enough to qualify her for the honor at the larger university level, a chemistry student with excellent grades in required science classes might be awarded a chemistry degree “magnum cum laude” by her department. Much of this is determined by the policies of individual universities.
In order to earn a magna cum laude distinction, there may be additional requirements in terms of course load or difficulty. To graduate with a Latin distinction, many schools require students to take an honors course or write an honors thesis. In some cases, professors or fellow students must also nominate students. Extracurricular activities may be considered when awarding prizes in order to recognize well-rounded students rather than just academic abilities. Strong grades are almost always required; however, they may not be the final criterion.
Inflationary Issues with Grades
A high grade point average is not always a good indicator of academic success due to grade inflation. Grade inflation occurs when professors give high grades to students who may not have earned them, or when classes are easier than usual, resulting in a disproportionate number of high grades.
Academic honors help to distinguish high-achieving students from the rest of the class, ensuring that the top students in each graduating class receive special recognition for their achievements. The number of honors awarded in any given year is frequently capped to prevent the system from being tainted by an overabundance of recognized students.