Magna Cum Laude vs. Summa Cum Laude: What Are the Differences?
What is Cum Laude?
People who hear this term for the first time find it weird and confusing. This reference guide is focused on educating all the people looking for Cum Laude meaning in 2023.
Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that is used to honor young graduates. It is the lowest of the three Latin honors signifying academic achievement of university graduates.
The highest academic distinction in the US universities is Summa Cum Laude, followed by Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude.
Numerous universities in the United States offer these honors, and many individuals find it necessary. On the other hand, many students take it lightly as this honor does not benefit them in the long run.
It is a fact that these honors might benefit you in getting the first job, but after that, only your experience and work history will matter for your career growth.
To understand the Cum Laude ideology, we are answering the following questions here:
- What is the meaning of Cum Laude?
- What is Summa Cum Laude?
- What is Magna Cum Laude?
- What is the difference between Summa Cum Laude & Magna Cum Laude?
- Why should you list Cum Laude on your resume?
- How to showcase Cum Laude on your resume?
What Is Cum Laude?
Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that means ‘With Honor’. It is the lowest of three Latin honors any university student can earn. There are three Cum Laude levels named Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. The Cum Laude honors are especially for individuals with higher grades at the time of their graduation.
Understanding Cum Laude
Let us understand Cum Laude by an example. Suppose Emily is about to graduate from a University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She is an intelligent student and has managed to get a spot in the top 25% of students in her batch. Her university awards Cum Laude to the top 25% marks achievers. Hence, she will be honored on her graduation day.
Required Cum Laude GPA
Though there are no fixed criteria, a minimum GPA of 3.5 will make you eligible for this honor in a United States University.
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What Is Magna Cum Laude?
Magna Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that means ‘With Great Honor’. It is the second-highest of the three Latin honors any university graduate can obtain.
Understanding Magna Cum Laude
To understand the Magna Cum Laude, we will continue the above-given example of Emily. Suppose if Emily manages to fix her spot in the list of top 10% scoring students in the university, she will be honored by Magna Cum Laude on her graduation day.
Required Magna Cum Laude GPA
Generally, you will need a GPA of at least 3.7 to become eligible for the Magna Cum Laude honor in a United States University.
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What Is Summa Cum Laude?
Similar to the above-given honors, Summa Cum Laude is also a Latin phrase that means ‘With Highest Honor’. This honor is the highest a student can earn and is reserved for the students with the finest academic achievement and highest GPAs in the graduation batch.
Understanding Summa Cum Laude
Though there are no concrete criteria for the Summa Cum Laude honor, we can consider the top 5% scoring students eligible for it as it is the highest honor a student can earn.
Required Summa Cum Laude GPA
To get the Summa Cum Laude honor on your graduation day, you will probably have to get a GPA of at least 3.9.
Difference Between Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude
Numerous colleges and universities across the entire United States are using these honors. Still, there is no standardization for students' eligibility for them. To make a clear picture of both these honors, we are differentiating them in the table given below:
| Magna Cum Laude | Summa Cum Laude |
|---|---|
| It means ‘With Great Honor’ | It means ‘With Highest Honor’ |
| It is for students having 3.7 and 3.8 GPA | It is for students having 3.9 and 4.0 GPA |
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Why Should You Showcase Cum Laude on Your Resume?
Showcasing Cum Laude on your resume can be a great way to highlight your academic achievements and demonstrate your dedication and hard work.
Here are some reasons why you should consider adding your Cum Laude honors to your resume:
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Helps you stand out from the competition: Having Cum Laude on your resume can help you stand out from other candidates who may not have achieved the same level of academic success. Employers are often impressed by candidates who have excelled academically, and displaying your honors can help you make a positive first impression.
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Demonstrates your commitment to excellence: Graduating Cum Laude is no small feat, and it demonstrates your commitment to academic excellence. This can be an important trait for employers who are looking for candidates who are dedicated and hardworking.
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Showcases your academic abilities: Displaying your Cum Laude honors can be an effective way to demonstrate your academic abilities, particularly if you don't have a lot of work experience yet. Employers may be more willing to consider candidates with less work experience if they have achieved impressive academic honors.
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Reflects your potential for success: Graduating Cum Laude is a strong indicator of potential for future success. Employers are often looking for candidates who have the ability to learn and grow, and your academic achievements can be a good indicator of these qualities.
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Boost your confidence: Finally, adding your Cum Laude honors to your resume can be a great way to boost your confidence and feel proud of your achievements. This can help you approach job interviews and networking events with greater self-assurance, which can ultimately lead to more success in your career.
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How to Show Cum Laude on a Resume?
If you have received this prestigious academic honor of Cum Laude, it is important to highlight it on your resume as it can significantly improve your chances of getting hired by a potential employer.
Here are some tips on how you can showcase Cum Laude on your resume effectively:
Include Cum Laude in the Education Section
The education section is the best place to highlight your Cum Laude distinction.
To include Cum Laude in your education section, follow these steps:
- Start by listing your degree and the institution where you earned it
- List your Cum Laude distinction next to your degree. For example, you can write "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Cum Laude"
- Make sure to capitalize "Cum Laude" as it is a proper noun
Mention the Cum Laude Distinction in the Objective or Summary Section
The objective or summary section can be a great place to highlight your Cum Laude distinction.
Since this section is usually at the beginning of the resume, it gives you an opportunity to highlight this prestigious accomplishment right off the bat to employers.
To mention your Cum Laude distinction in the objective or summary section, follow these steps:
- Start by introducing yourself and stating your career objectives
- Mention your Cum Laude distinction and the degree you earned it in. For example, you can write "Recent computer science graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Cum Laude"
- Keep it brief and to the point. The objective or summary section should be no more than two to three sentences.
Include Cum Laude in the Honors and Awards Section
If you have received other academic scholarships, honors, and awards, you can include your Cum Laude distinction in this section.
To include Cum Laude in the honors and awards section, highlight your Cum Laude distinction next to your degree. For example, you can write "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Cum Laude."
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What Is an Academic Distinction?
The United States education system has two forms of academic distinctions, i.e., Annual Distinctions & Graduating Distinctions. Let us get a detailed description of both of these below:
Annual Distinctions
Annual distinctions are calculated via the number of credit hours completed versus the GPA. These distinctions are provided annually via the publication of Dean’s List.
Graduating Distinctions
As its name suggests, graduating distinctions are given at the time of graduation based on the overall GPA of a student. The Latin honors, i.e., Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, can be considered graduation distinctions.
How to Gain Academic Distinction?
To gain an annual academic distinction, you need to complete all your credit hours and get an annual GPA of at least 3.5 or higher.
Similarly, to get a graduating distinction, you need to maintain a GPA of more than 3.5 throughout your degree course.
What Is the Highest Cum Laude?
Summa Cum Laude honor is considered to be the highest Cum Laude honor that is offered to the students having 3.9 or 4.0 GPA throughout all the semesters of their degree course.
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When Did Latin Honors Originate
The Harvard University of America gave the first Latin honors in 1869. Only a few countries like Israel, Canada, and Indonesia use this award system apart from the United States.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom uses an English award system to honor deserving students.
Other Academic Honors Your College May Award
Universities offer many other honors apart from Laude Honors across the United States. Here are some honors you might see in your university for students who perform well in academics in an academic year:
1. Dean's List
This academic honor is for the students who earn the highest GPA in a full-time course at the university.
2. Chancellor's Scholars
This honor is for fresh students and works as a scholarship for those having higher grades in their high school.
3. Honor Students
The students who enroll in honors courses or work on special projects receive this recognition.
4. Academic Distinction
This academic honor is for the students who achieved higher grades in semesters.
5. Valedictorian and Salutatorian
These two are the highest academic honors one can get in the United States. You will become Valedictorian if you are equipped with the highest academic achievements and Salutatorian if you have the second-highest academic achievements.
Career Assistance at Hiration
After graduating with a Cum Laude or higher honor, you will become eligible to apply for any job you desire. However, you will need a job-winning resume for that.
Hiration can help you build an impeccable resume for your targeted job with its Artificial Intelligence-powered Online Resume Builder. It comes with 24/7 chat support to offer you smooth resume building experience.
Moreover, you can also check out other tools built by experts at Hiration with the help of AI to help you get your desired job without any hurdle:
Key Takeaways
- What is Cum laude?
Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that represents the lowest of three Latin honors any university student can earn, especially for individuals with higher grades at the time of their graduation. To be eligible for this honor in a United States University, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required, but there are no fixed criteria.
- What Is Summa Cum Laude?
Summa Cum Laude is the highest Latin honor a student can earn and is reserved for those with the highest academic achievement and GPAs in their graduation batch, typically the top 5%. To be eligible, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.9, although there are no fixed criteria.
- What Is Magna Cum Laude?
Magna Cum Laude is the second-highest of the three Latin honors, meaning "With Great Honor". To be eligible for this honor in a US university, a minimum GPA of 3.7 is generally required.
- How to showcase Cum Laude on a resume?
If you have received the prestigious academic honor of Cum Laude, it is highly recommended to showcase it on your resume as it can increase your chances of getting hired. You can include Cum Laude in the education section, mention it in the objective or summary section, and add it to the honors and awards section. By highlighting your Cum Laude distinction, you can demonstrate your academic excellence and commitment to hard work, which can make you stand out among other job applicants.
You can visit Hiration's career activator platform that has 24x7 chat support to help you draft the best resume.
For any additional career assistance, you can contact our experts at support@hration.com.