Skip to content
Contact USI

An undergraduate, baccalaureate degree-seeking student who completes all University requirements for graduation and meets the requirements for graduation honors:

  • with a cumulative grade point average of 3.600-3.799 will be graduated with the honor Cum Laude.
  • with a cumulative grade point average of 3.800 or higher will be graduated Magna Cum Laude.
  • with a cumulative grade point average of 4.000 will be graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Students eligible for commencement honors can be recognized in the commencement exercises by colored stoles and tassels. Blue indicates cum laude, red indicates magna cum laude, and gold indicates summa cum laude. A student receiving graduation honors will have the appropriate notation printed on both the transcript and diploma. 

University Requirements for Commencement Honors

Commencement honors (for purposes of printing the commencement program) are determined by using the cumulative grade point average at the end of the semester/term preceding each commencement.

A student who is to receive a baccalaureate degree and meets each of the following requirements is eligible for commencement honors:

  • Have completed (or have a combination of completed and enrolled hours in the final semester) a minimum of 60 credit hours at the University. Transfer and departmental/exam credit hours do not count toward this 60 hour minimum.
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.600 on all courses attempted at the University.

University Requirements for Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are determined by using the cumulative grade point average of the final term when graduation requirements are completed and therefore may differ from commencement honors.

A student who is to receive a baccalaureate degree and meets each of the following requirements is eligible for graduation honors.

  • Completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at the University. Transfer and departmental/exam credit hours do not count toward this 60 hour minimum.
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.600 on all courses attempted at the University.


Certificate, post-baccalaureate certificate, associate, master's, post-master's certificate, and doctoral degree candidates are not eligible for honors.