Graduation Honors

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Graduation Honors


The undergraduate student's degree honors designation is printed on transcripts and on the diploma, and is determined by first measuring the SIU ("institutional") GPA against the criteria below, then the cumulative All-Work ("overall") GPA calculated according to SIU policy from all undergraduate career work including work transferred in from other institutions.  Both GPAs can be seen by the student within SalukiNet Self-Service in the "Transcript Totals" section of their Unofficial Student Academic Record.

Summa cum Laude – The Highest Honors designation awarded to graduating students with an SIU GPA of 3.900 or higher and an All-Work GPA of 3.900 or higher.

Magna cum Laude – The High Honors designation awarded to graduating students with an SIU GPA of 3.750 or higher and an All-Work GPA of 3.750 or higher, but one or both of which is less than 3.900.

Cum Laude – The Honors designation awarded to graduating students with an SIU GPA of 3.500 or higher and an All-Work GPA of 3.500 or higher, but one or both of which is less than 3.750.



Undergraduate students who successfully complete the requirements for the University Honors Program certificate receive that designation posted to their academic record at the time the degree is awarded.

Departmental Honors may also be posted to the undergraduate student's academic record at the time the degree is awarded for participating students in departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Science.¹

Graduate students do not have special degree honors designation posted to the academic record.

Law students also have special degree honors posted to the academic record, transcripts, and diploma based on School of Law criteria.



1 A departmental or academic unit honors program consists of no fewer than six, nor more than fourteen, semester hours in research or independent study which is counted toward the student's major.  Some honors programs require a comprehensive examination at the end of the junior year and again at the end of the senior year.