Graduation: A guide to students’ Latin honors

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TCU students wait to hear their name called during commencement (Beth Griffith/TCU 360)

By Justin DeSales, Staff Writer

Students who earned a GPA of 3.5, or higher will be recognized during commencement with Latin honors.

Based on the totality of a student’s grade point average, Latin honors began in 1869, when Harvard College became the first college in the United States to provide final honors to its graduates. Since then, many colleges in the U.S. have adopted this tradition and provide their students with these honors upon graduation.

Students often begin their college career with the goal of achieving a grade point average to be in one of the three major groups.Upon graduation, students receive an indication of their honors on their diplomas. Additionally, it will be mentioned as the students have their names called to collect their diplomas on stage.

  • Students who graduate Summa Cum Laude have achieved an average GPA of 3.9 or above.
  • Students who graduate Magna Cum Laude earned a GPA  between 3.7 and 3.89.
  • Students who graduate Cum Laude have a GPA between 3.5 and 3.69.

Latin honors at TCU are reserved for students who have earned at least 58 of their credits on TCU’s campus, excluding those completed by an examination. TCU’s winter commencement is set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 17.