"Cum laude" is a Latin phrase meaning "with praise" or "with honor," used as an academic distinction to recognize students who graduate with above-average academic achievement. It is typically the lowest of three Latin honors awarded at graduation, indicating that a student has performed well academically, often corresponding to a GPA around 3.5 to 3.6 or placing in the top 16-35% of their class, though exact criteria vary by institution
. The Latin honors system generally includes three levels:
- Cum laude ("with praise"): signifies graduating with distinction or honor.
- Magna cum laude ("with great praise"): a higher honor usually awarded to students with a GPA around 3.7 to 3.8 or in the top 6-15% of the class.
- Summa cum laude ("with highest praise"): the highest academic honor, typically for students with a GPA around 3.9 to 4.0 or in the top 1-5% of the class
These honors serve to acknowledge academic excellence and can enhance a graduate's reputation and opportunities in further education or employment
. The exact GPA thresholds and criteria for these honors differ depending on the school, college, or university
