Graduating with Latin honors is a significant academic achievement. It shows you maintained a strong academic record, completed rigorous coursework, and performed at a high level throughout your degree program.
However, simply adding the phrase to your resume is not enough. You need to know how to list cum laude on resume clearly, accurately, and in a way that supports your job application.
In most cases, Latin honors should appear in your Education section, typically next to your degree, graduation date, or GPA. The exact format depends on your career level and the amount of academic information you need to include. This guide explains where to place cum laude, how to format each Latin honor, whether to include your GPA, and when academic honors should remain on your resume.
What Does Cum Laude Mean?
Cum laude is a Latin academic distinction awarded to students who achieve strong academic results.
The three common levels are:
| Latin honor | General meaning |
| cum laude | With honor or praise |
| magna cum laude | With great honor |
| summa cum laude | With highest honor |
Each college or university sets its own eligibility standards. Some institutions use GPA thresholds, while others consider class rank, academic department, or other requirements. Because standards vary, include only the exact distinction officially awarded by your institution.
Should You Put Cum Laude on Your Resume?
Yes. You should usually include cum laude when it appears on your diploma, transcript, or official academic record.
It can be particularly valuable when:
- You are a student or recent graduate
- You have limited professional experience
- You are applying for internships
- The employer values academic performance
- You are applying to consulting, finance, research, legal, academic, or technical roles
- Your education is directly related to the position
- You are applying to graduate school or a competitive training program
Listing cum laude on a resume demonstrates discipline, consistency, attention to detail, and the ability to meet demanding standards. However, academic honors should support your application rather than detract from stronger professional achievements.
How to List Cum Laude on Resume Documents
The simplest approach is to place the honor directly after your degree or on the line below it.
a) Standard Format
Bachelor of Science in Finance, cum laude
University of Georgia, Athens, GA | May 2026
b) Alternative Format
Bachelor of Science in Finance
University of Georgia, Athens, GA | May 2026
Graduated cum laude
c) Compact Format
B.S. in Finance, cum laude | University of Georgia | 2026
All three formats are acceptable. Choose the version that matches the style of the rest of your resume.
How to List Magna Cum Laude on a Resume
Use the full distinction exactly as awarded.
Example
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, magna cum laude
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA | May 2026
You can also place it on a separate line: Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Georgia State University | May 2026
Magna cum laude | Dean’s List
Avoid shortening the honor to an unfamiliar abbreviation.
How to List Summa Cum Laude on a Resume
Summa cum laude is typically the highest Latin honor awarded by an institution. It should be prominently displayed in the Education section.
Example
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, summa cum laude
Columbia University, New York, NY | May 2025
Example With Additional Details
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Columbia University, New York, NY | May 2025
Summa cum laude | GPA: 3.95/4.0
Senior Thesis: Consumer Spending During Economic Downturns
Include extra academic details only when they strengthen your application.
Should Cum Laude Be Italicized?
Latin honors are traditionally written in lowercase italics:
- cum laude
- magna cum laude
- summa cum laude
This is the most formal presentation and works well on professional resumes.
However, some resume templates use title case or nonitalicized text for consistency. For example:
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
This is still understandable, but the traditional lowercase, italicized style is generally the cleaner choice. Whichever format you use, maintain consistency throughout your document.
Where Should Cum Laude Appear?
Latin honors belong in your Education section.
They may appear:
- After the degree
- After the graduation date
- On a separate line below the school
- Alongside your GPA
- Within an honors subsection
Do not place cum laude in your job title, contact information, or skills section.
Best Placement for Recent Graduates
Recent graduates may place Education near the top of the resume.
A common order is:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Skills
- Education
- Internships or experience
- Projects and activities
Best Placement for Experienced Professionals
Once you have several years of relevant experience, move Education below Professional Experience.
Your Latin honor can remain listed, but your work achievements should receive more attention.
Resume Examples With Cum Laude
1. Recent Graduate Example
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Marketing, cum laude
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | May 2026
GPA: 3.72/4.0
Relevant coursework: Marketing Analytics, Consumer Behavior, Digital Strategy and Brand Management
2. Magna Cum Laude Example
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, magna cum laude
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA | May 2025
Relevant projects: Cloud-Based Inventory Platform, Predictive Maintenance Application
3. Summa Cum Laude Example
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, summa cum laude
Emory University, Atlanta, GA | May 2026
GPA: 3.96/4.0 | Dean’s List
Senior research project: Workplace Stress and Employee Retention
4. Experienced Professional Example
Education
Master of Business Administration
Georgia State University
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, magna cum laude
University of Georgia
Graduation dates and coursework are unnecessary here because professional experience carries more weight.
5. Compact One-Line Example
B.S. in Information Systems, cum laude | University of Maryland
This format works well for experienced candidates who need to conserve space.
Should You Include Both Your GPA and Cum Laude?
You can include both, but it is not always necessary.
Include your GPA when:
- You graduated recently
- It is 3.5 or higher
- The employer requests it
- You have limited work experience
- The position is academically competitive
Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude
University of Miami | May 2026
GPA: 3.89/4.0
You may omit your GPA when:
- You have several years of professional experience
- The honor already demonstrates strong academic performance
- The GPA does not add meaningful value
- You need to save space
Never estimate, round up, or alter your GPA.
Can You List Cum Laude Without a GPA?
Yes. You do not need to list a GPA simply because you include Latin honors.
Example
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, cum laude
Boston University
This is especially appropriate for professionals who graduated several years ago.
What If Your School Does Not Award Latin Honors?
Not every institution uses cum laude distinctions.
When your school does not award Latin honors, you may include other academic achievements, such as:
- Dean’s List
- Honors program participation
- Departmental honors
- Academic scholarships
- Class rank
- High GPA
- Honor society membership
- Outstanding graduate awards
Example
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
State University | May 2026
GPA: 3.82/4.0 | Dean’s List
Only list honors you officially received.
What If You Nearly Qualified for Cum Laude?
Do not state that you graduated cum laude unless the distinction was formally awarded.
Avoid phrases such as:
- Cum laude equivalent
- Nearly graduated cum laude
- Cum laude-level GPA
- Qualified for academic honors
Instead, include your actual GPA when it is strong.
Example
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
State University | May 2026
GPA: 3.68/4.0
Accuracy is more important than trying to strengthen the qualification.
Can You Include Expected Cum Laude Honors?
Do not list an expected Latin honor unless your institution has officially confirmed it. Academic performance can change before graduation, and Latin honors may depend on final grades or class rank.
For a degree in progress, use:
Bachelor of Science in Finance
University of Georgia | Expected May 2027
Current GPA: 3.87/4.0
Add the honor after it has been officially awarded.
How Long Should Cum Laude Stay on Your Resume?
There is no fixed deadline for removing Latin honors.
Keep the distinction when:
- You are early in your career
- It remains one of your strongest achievements
- It supports the target position
- You are applying for academic, legal, financial, research, or technical roles
- You have sufficient resume space
You may remove it when:
- Your resume is overcrowded
- You have extensive professional experience
- Stronger accomplishments need more space
- The education section is no longer important to the target role
Unlike coursework and college activities, Latin honors can remain relevant for many years because they are permanent academic distinctions.
Should Cum Laude Appear in Your Resume Summary?
Usually, no.
Your summary should focus on:
- Professional identity
- Years of experience
- Specialized skills
- Industry knowledge
- Career accomplishments
- Value to the employer
However, a recent graduate with limited experience may briefly mention academic honors.
Example
Recent finance graduate who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration magna cum laude, with internship experience in financial reporting, data analysis, and budgeting.
Use this approach only when the achievement is highly relevant, and you do not have stronger professional accomplishments.
Can Cum Laude Be Included on LinkedIn?
Yes. Add the honor to the Education section of your LinkedIn profile.
You can include it:
- After the degree name
- In the Grade field
- In the Activities and Societies field
- In the description
Example
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, magna cum laude
Keep the LinkedIn entry consistent with your resume and academic records.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the Wrong Honor –Do not confuse cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.
- Capitalizing Inconsistently –Use one style throughout your resume. Lowercase italics are the traditional option.
- Listing an Unofficial Distinction –Only include honors that appear on official academic records.
- Overloading the Education Section –Avoid adding every award, society, course, and activity.
- Including an Unnecessary GPA –Experienced professionals usually do not need to list both GPA and Latin honors.
- Making the Honor More Prominent Than the Degree –Your degree and field of study remain the most important education details.
- Placing Education Too High –Experienced professionals should prioritize career accomplishments over academic history.
- Using Complicated Formatting –Avoid graphics, text boxes, or decorative symbols that can affect ATS readability.
Quick Formatting Checklist
Before submitting your resume, confirm that:
- The correct Latin honor is listed
- The honor matches your official academic record
- Your degree and major are included
- The institution name is accurate
- Formatting is consistent
- Your graduation date is included only when useful
- Your GPA adds value
- Education is placed appropriately for your career level
- Unnecessary coursework and activities are removed
- The section remains ATS-friendly
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you list cum laude on a resume? Place cum laude after your degree or on the line below it in the Education section.
- Should cum laude be capitalized? Latin honors are traditionally written in lowercase: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.
- Should cum laude be italicized? Italicizing Latin honors is the traditional style, but consistency and readability are most important.
- Can I list cum laude without my GPA? Yes. The honor can appear independently without a GPA.
- Should I list both GPA and cum laude? You may include both when you are a recent graduate and the GPA is strong. Experienced professionals can usually omit the GPA.
- Does cum laude go before or after the degree? It normally appears after the degree.Example: Bachelor of Science in Finance, cum laude
- Can I include cum laude years after graduation? Yes. It is a permanent academic distinction and may remain on your resume when it supports your application.
- Does cum laude matter to employers? It can help recent graduates demonstrate academic performance, discipline, and learning ability. Work experience generally becomes more important as your career advances.
- Can I list expected cum laude honors? Wait until the distinction has been officially awarded. Before graduation, list your current GPA instead.
- Where does cum laude go on LinkedIn? Add it to the Education section next to the degree or within the education description.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to list cum laude on resume helps you present your academic achievement clearly without overwhelming the Education section.
Place the honor next to your degree, use the exact designation awarded by your institution, and keep the formatting consistent. Recent graduates may also include a strong GPA, relevant coursework, academic projects, and other honors. Experienced professionals should keep the section concise and prioritize career achievements.
Graduating with Latin honors demonstrates that you met a high academic standard. Present it accurately and let it strengthen the rest of your qualifications.
Highlight Your Achievements With BoxResume
Academic honors can strengthen your resume, but employers also need to see how your education, skills, internships, and professional accomplishments position you as a strong candidate. BoxResume helps students, recent graduates, and experienced professionals create ATS-friendly resumes that clearly and impactfully present their qualifications.
Our resume writers can help you:
- Format your Education section
- Position Latin honors correctly
- Highlight relevant academic projects
- Present internships and entry-level experience
- Add industry-specific keywords
- Write measurable accomplishments
- Create a stronger LinkedIn profile
- Target your resume to specific opportunities
Get a professional resume review to ensure your academic and career achievements receive the attention they deserve.
