Cum Laude, Magna, Summa: What Do They Actually Mean?
The three Latin honors โ cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude โ trace back centuries. Here’s what each phrase literally means, how they’re perceived by employers, and how they show up on your diploma.
Cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude aren’t just tiers on a GPA chart โ they’re centuries-old Latin phrases with specific literal meanings, and understanding what they actually say explains why the order matters.
For the exact GPA numbers behind each tier, see our Summa Cum Laude GPA guide. This piece covers the meaning, history, and real-world perception instead.
Cum Laude Meaning: Where the Phrases Come From #
All three phrases use the Latin word laude, meaning “praise,” combined with a qualifier that scales the intensity: cum (“with”), magna (“great”), and summa (“highest”). The tradition of using Latin academic honors dates back to European universities, where Latin was the standard language of scholarship for centuries โ a tradition American universities inherited and formalized into today’s GPA-based tiers.
Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Cum laude translates literally to “with praise” or “with honor.” It’s the entry-level tier โ a genuine academic achievement, awarded to graduates who performed solidly above the general graduating class, but who didn’t reach the higher thresholds required for magna or summa.
Magna Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Magna cum laude translates to “with great praise.” The addition of magna signals a notable step up from the base honor โ recognizing graduates whose academic record was meaningfully stronger than the cum laude baseline, without quite reaching the very top of the class.
See Where Your GPA Stands
Our free GPA Calculator shows your current standing and what’s needed to reach the next honor tier.
Summa Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Summa cum laude translates to “with highest praise” โ summa being the superlative form, meaning there’s no higher qualifier above it in this system. It’s reserved for the strongest academic performers in a graduating class, typically the top 3โ8% depending on the institution. See our full Summa Cum Laude GPA breakdown for exact figures.
How They Appear on Your Diploma #
Most colleges print the Latin phrase directly on the physical diploma itself โ often in a smaller line below your name and degree title. Many schools also note the honor on the official transcript, and some announce it during the commencement ceremony with a distinct cord, stole, or medallion color for each tier.
How Employers and Grad Schools View Them #
- Competitive fields like law, finance, and academia often weigh Latin honors more heavily, especially for candidates a few years out of school with limited work history.
- Grad school admissions frequently view any Latin honor as a positive signal, particularly for programs weighing undergraduate academic rigor.
- Weight decreases over time. The longer you’re in the workforce, the more your actual work experience outweighs undergraduate honors on a resume.
- List it correctly. Include the Latin phrase directly under your degree line on a resume โ most hiring managers recognize the terminology immediately.
Include your Latin honor on your resume for at least the first 3โ5 years after graduation โ after that, most employers weight recent experience far more heavily than undergraduate distinctions.
Common Mistakes #
- Mixing up the order. Cum laude is the lowest tier, not the highest โ summa cum laude (“highest praise”) sits at the top.
- Assuming every school uses all three tiers. Some institutions only award one or two levels of Latin honors, or use entirely different terminology.
- Overstating the honor’s impact years later. It carries real weight early in a career, but fades in relevance as work experience accumulates.
- Not checking capitalization and italics conventions. Style guides differ on whether to italicize Latin honors on a resume โ check your target field’s norms.
Summary #
Cum laude (“with praise”), magna cum laude (“with great praise”), and summa cum laude (“with highest praise”) form an escalating scale rooted in centuries-old academic Latin. Beyond the GPA numbers behind each tier, they signal genuine academic distinction that many employers and graduate programs recognize, particularly early in a career.
GPA Calculator
Calculate your weighted or unweighted GPA in seconds โ free, no signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions #
What does cum laude mean? +
What does magna cum laude mean? +
What does summa cum laude mean? +
Do employers care about Latin honors? +
How are Latin honors shown on a diploma? +
Know Where You Stand
Calculate your GPA now and see how close you are to a Latin honor.
Calculate My GPA โRelated Articles
Cum Laude, Magna, Summa: What Do They Actually Mean?
The three Latin honors โ cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude โ trace back centuries. Here's what each phrase literally means, how they're perceived by employers, and how they show up on your diploma.
Cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude aren't just tiers on a GPA chart โ they're centuries-old Latin phrases with specific literal meanings, and understanding what they actually say explains why the order matters.
For the exact GPA numbers behind each tier, see our Summa Cum Laude GPA guide. This piece covers the meaning, history, and real-world perception instead.
Cum Laude Meaning: Where the Phrases Come From #
All three phrases use the Latin word laude, meaning "praise," combined with a qualifier that scales the intensity: cum ("with"), magna ("great"), and summa ("highest"). The tradition of using Latin academic honors dates back to European universities, where Latin was the standard language of scholarship for centuries โ a tradition American universities inherited and formalized into today's GPA-based tiers.
Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Cum laude translates literally to "with praise" or "with honor." It's the entry-level tier โ a genuine academic achievement, awarded to graduates who performed solidly above the general graduating class, but who didn't reach the higher thresholds required for magna or summa.
Magna Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Magna cum laude translates to "with great praise." The addition of magna signals a notable step up from the base honor โ recognizing graduates whose academic record was meaningfully stronger than the cum laude baseline, without quite reaching the very top of the class.
See Where Your GPA Stands
Our free GPA Calculator shows your current standing and what's needed to reach the next honor tier.
Summa Cum Laude Meaning: What It Says #
Summa cum laude translates to "with highest praise" โ summa being the superlative form, meaning there's no higher qualifier above it in this system. It's reserved for the strongest academic performers in a graduating class, typically the top 3โ8% depending on the institution. See our full Summa Cum Laude GPA breakdown for exact figures.
How They Appear on Your Diploma #
Most colleges print the Latin phrase directly on the physical diploma itself โ often in a smaller line below your name and degree title. Many schools also note the honor on the official transcript, and some announce it during the commencement ceremony with a distinct cord, stole, or medallion color for each tier.
How Employers and Grad Schools View Them #
- Competitive fields like law, finance, and academia often weigh Latin honors more heavily, especially for candidates a few years out of school with limited work history.
- Grad school admissions frequently view any Latin honor as a positive signal, particularly for programs weighing undergraduate academic rigor.
- Weight decreases over time. The longer you're in the workforce, the more your actual work experience outweighs undergraduate honors on a resume.
- List it correctly. Include the Latin phrase directly under your degree line on a resume โ most hiring managers recognize the terminology immediately.
Include your Latin honor on your resume for at least the first 3โ5 years after graduation โ after that, most employers weight recent experience far more heavily than undergraduate distinctions.
Common Mistakes #
- Mixing up the order. Cum laude is the lowest tier, not the highest โ summa cum laude ("highest praise") sits at the top.
- Assuming every school uses all three tiers. Some institutions only award one or two levels of Latin honors, or use entirely different terminology.
- Overstating the honor's impact years later. It carries real weight early in a career, but fades in relevance as work experience accumulates.
- Not checking capitalization and italics conventions. Style guides differ on whether to italicize Latin honors on a resume โ check your target field's norms.
Summary #
Cum laude ("with praise"), magna cum laude ("with great praise"), and summa cum laude ("with highest praise") form an escalating scale rooted in centuries-old academic Latin. Beyond the GPA numbers behind each tier, they signal genuine academic distinction that many employers and graduate programs recognize, particularly early in a career.
GPA Calculator
Calculate your weighted or unweighted GPA in seconds โ free, no signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions #
What does cum laude mean? +
What does magna cum laude mean? +
What does summa cum laude mean? +
Do employers care about Latin honors? +
How are Latin honors shown on a diploma? +
Know Where You Stand
Calculate your GPA now and see how close you are to a Latin honor.
Calculate My GPA โ