summa cum laude

Top academic distinction

Summa cum laude is the highest level of academic distinction, Latin for "with highest praise." It designates graduates who achieved the top tier of academic performance: She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard.

Below it are magna cum laude ("with great praise") and cum laude ("with praise").

The phrase appears on diplomas and in graduation announcements.

academic

valedictorian

Top-ranked graduating student

salutatorianSecond-ranked graduating student
GPACumulative academic score
honorsRecognition for achievement

thesis · diploma · graduation · dean's list · Phi Beta Kappa · commencement · transcript · scholarship · university · bachelor's

achievement

distinction

Notable difference or honor

excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
recognitionPerceiving something as known

prestige · accolade · merit · accomplishment · honor · pride · success · triumph · laurels · commendation

Categories

studentsstudent, freshman, university students, sophomore, pupil
academicsprofessor, course, university professors, math, professors
collegecampus, courses, application, dorms, dorm room
school termsfreshman, sophomore, junior, senior, homework
Academic Recordstranscript, diploma, grades, GPA, degree
achieversachiever, high achiever, overachiever, go-getter, striver

Opposites

academic honor level

summa cum laudecum laude

Academic distinction phrase

magna cum laude · without distinction · pass · unclassified

academic performance/success

summa cum laudeacademic probation

Conditional student standing for underperformance

dropout · expelled · remedial · failing · failing grades

Family

summary, summation, summarily, cum laude, summative, magna cum laude

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Positive · Rated G