How to List Magna Cum Laude and Other Latin Honors on a Resume
List Latin honors in your education section, right after the degree: BA in Economics, magna cum laude. Write them in lowercase, with or without italics, and never abbreviate. Keep them while they are recent and relevant — usually for the first five to ten years after graduating.
What cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude mean
| Honor | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|
| cum laude | with praise / with honors | Good |
| magna cum laude | with great praise / with high honors | Very high |
| summa cum laude | with highest praise / with highest honors | Highest |
Each university sets its own rules. Some use a GPA cut-off, some award honors to a fixed share of the class, and some add a thesis or departmental requirement. Use exactly the wording on your diploma or transcript.
Where to put Latin honors on a resume
- Next to the degree — the most common and the easiest for recruiters and ATS software to read.
- On a separate line under the degree, together with your GPA or awards.
- In an Honors & Awards section — useful if you also have scholarships, dean’s list or prizes.
In the free resume builder, add the honor to the degree line or to the education Notes field so it appears in every template and download.
Examples
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, summa cum laude
Riverside University · 2024
BA in Economics — Northfield University, 2023
Magna cum laude · GPA 3.8/4.0
Honors & Awards
Cum laude graduate, 2022 · Dean’s List, six semesters · Regional Innovation Prize
Formatting rules
- Lowercase in the middle of a line; capitalise only the first word when the honor starts a line.
- Italics are optional. Many style guides no longer italicise common Latin phrases; whichever you choose, apply it everywhere.
- Do not abbreviate. “MCL” or “SCL” confuses readers and parsing software.
- Add the GPA only if it helps — a common rule of thumb is 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Latin honors, GPA and the Dean’s List
Latin honors summarise your whole degree, while a GPA gives the exact figure and the Dean’s List shows strong individual terms. If you have all three, keep the honor on the degree line and group the rest in one short line or an awards section, so the education entry stays easy to scan. Departmental honors (for example Honors in Economics) and a thesis distinction are separate awards — list them by their official names rather than merging them into a Latin honor.
Equivalent honors outside the US
Many countries do not use Latin honors. Write your own system’s distinction and, if you apply abroad, add a short equivalent: a UK First-Class Honours, an Indian First Class with Distinction, a German mit Auszeichnung or a French mention très bien. Do not translate a grade into a Latin honor you were not awarded. The resume for overseas jobs guide explains how to present foreign grades.
When to leave Latin honors off
Once you have several years of strong work results, honors matter less than what you have achieved since. Many people remove them after five to ten years, or when space is needed for recent experience. Keep them longer in academia, law and other fields where academic records stay important.
FAQ
Should magna cum laude be italicized on a resume?
Either is acceptable. Italics are traditional, but many modern style guides write common Latin phrases in plain text. Choose one style and use it consistently.
Should Latin honors be capitalized on a resume?
Write them in lowercase when they follow the degree on the same line, for example BA in History, with the honor after a comma. Capitalise the first letter only when the honor starts a line.
Is it worth putting cum laude on a resume?
Yes, especially in your first years after graduating or when applying to graduate school, law, consulting or academic roles. It shows consistent academic performance in a few words.
Can I list Latin honors before graduation?
Only if the honor has been confirmed. Otherwise write your current GPA or “expected” honors only if your university officially uses that term.