Latin honors can strengthen your resume, especially if you’re early in your career or applying to academically focused roles.
This guide explains when Latin honors add value, where to include them, and shows clear resume examples you can follow.
How should you list Latin honors on your resume?
List Latin honors like summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude in your resume’s education section, either next to your degree or on a separate line below it.
Use lowercase italics and keep the placement clear so recruiters can quickly see your academic achievement.
Latin honors follow consistent formatting rules across resumes, regardless of the specific distinction.
| Element | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | Add in the education section, next to your degree or on a new line | Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude |
| Capitalization | Use lowercase for Latin honors | summa cum laude |
| Italics | Italicize the phrase for formal formatting | cum laude |
| Multiple honors | Use a separate “Honors” section if you have several awards | Honors: summa cum laude, Dean’s List |
| GPA (optional) | Include only if requested or especially strong | summa cum laude (GPA: 3.9) |
These formatting rules apply to all Latin honors, so once you understand the structure, you can use the same approach for any distinction on your resume.
How should you list cum laude on your resume?
You can write cum laude and summa cum laude in your resume’s education section or in a separate honors section.
The best placement depends on your level of work experience and how strongly your academic achievements support your application.
There are two main ways to format Latin honors in your education section:
- In the education section
- In a separate honors section
In both cases, the phrase should appear in lowercase and italics to match standard academic formatting.
1. Education section
Most job seekers should list cum laude or summa cum laude in the education section of their resume.
This placement keeps academic achievements easy for recruiters to find and is especially effective for students, recent graduates, or roles where educational performance is highly relevant.
There are two common ways to format Latin honors in the education section.
Same line as your degree (most popular)
This approach keeps your education details concise and works well when you want your qualification and distinction to be read together.
This example below gives you a visual representation to copy:
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, summa cum laude
Separate line below your degree
This format gives slightly more visual emphasis to your academic honor and can improve readability if your degree title is long or detailed.
Follow this below:
University of Florida
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
cum laude
2. Separate honors section
You can list summa cum laude in a separate honors section if you have several academic distinctions to include.
This approach helps group achievements together and gives them more visibility, particularly for recent graduates or candidates applying to academically focused roles.
Create a short bullet point list under an “Honors” heading and include your Latin distinction alongside other awards or recognitions.
Ideally, the section should contain at least three achievements so it feels balanced and purposeful.
Your Latin honors do not need to be italicized, but they should still appear in lowercase and match the wording on your diploma.
These examples show what cum laude looks like when listed in a separate “Honors” section:
- Graduated summa cum laude
- top prize, 2019 Undergraduate Student Poster Competition
- Sigma Xi Affiliate Circle Member
- Student Chapter, American Society of Civil Engineers, President 2018-19
- Dean’s List, 2018,
3. Other options (less common)
In some cases, Latin honors can also be mentioned briefly in your resume summary or cover letter to reinforce strong academic performance.
This is most effective for entry-level candidates or roles where educational achievement is a key qualification.
However, cum laude distinctions should not be listed in your work experience or skills sections.
These areas should focus on professional achievements and abilities rather than academic credentials.
How to list magna cum laude on your resume
You can list magna cum laude on your resume using the same formatting as any Latin honor, either next to your degree or on a separate line in your education section.
The formatting is the same for all Latin honors, including cum laude and summa cum laude, so once you understand the structure, you can apply it consistently.
1. Example of magna cum laude on same line (most common)
Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude
2. Example of magna cum laude on separate line
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature
magna cum laude
Use the same approach if you’re listing summa cum laude, as the formatting rules do not change between honors.
Reference table to listing Latin honors
Here is a quick comparison of the most common ways to list Latin honors on a resume and when each option works best.
| Placement | When to use it | Formatting example |
|---|---|---|
| Education section, same line as degree | Best for recent graduates or when academic performance is highly relevant | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, magna cum laude |
| Education section, separate line | Useful if your degree title is long or you want the honor to stand out more clearly | Bachelor of Arts in History, cum laude |
| Separate honors section | Ideal if you have multiple academic awards or distinctions to list | Graduated cum laude |
| With GPA included | Helpful if the employer requests GPA or your school has especially strict grading standards | Bachelor of Biology, summa cum laude (GPA: 3.95) |
Why include Latin honors on your resume?
Including cum laude or magna cum laude on your resume is usually most helpful when your academic achievements are a key part of your qualifications.
You should consider listing Latin honors if you:
- Have limited or no work experience
- Are a college student or recent graduate entering the job market
- Are applying to graduate or professional school
- Want to highlight measurable academic success that may help ATS recognize relevant education-related keywords
- Are pursuing roles in fields where academic performance is especially important, such as academia, law, finance, or research
- Want to demonstrate consistency, discipline, or strong intellectual ability early in your career
When should you not include Latin honors on your resume?
Latin honors become less relevant as your professional experience grows.
In many cases, it is better to focus on measurable work achievements rather than academic distinctions.
You may choose not to include cum laude or summa cum laude if you:
- Have several years of relevant full-time work experience
- Work in an industry where academic performance is not a key hiring factor
- Need to save resume space for recent accomplishments or technical skills
- Graduated more than three to five years ago and your career progression now carries greater weight
Over time, your resume should shift emphasis from education to professional impact and results.
What if your honors are not Latin?
Always use the exact wording of any academic distinctions shown on your diploma or transcript.
If your school awards honors in plain English, such as “with high honors” or “with highest honors,” list them exactly as written.
Do not translate or convert honors into Latin or English equivalents.
When should you not include Latin honors on your resume?
Unless educational excellence is directly relevant to your qualifications for a particular job or industry, there’s no point listing cum laude on your resume if:
- Your job-related employment history is extensive
- You graduated from college more than three to five years ago.
The more work experience you acquire over time, the more relevant and influential this section of your resume becomes.
Except for some occupations where academic credentials remain important, you can gradually devote less attention and space to the education section, including details such as GPA and Latin honors.
The relative emphasis on employment history and education in your resume should reflect what hiring managers are most interested in.
Key takeaways
- Including Latin honors on your resume could set you apart from other job candidates by demonstrating a commitment to excellence and strong work ethic.
- Including cum laude on a resume is most appropriate for entry level job seekers lacking work experience, for college students or fresh graduates, or in some professions where high academic achievement is always relevant.
- There are two slightly different ways to write cum laude in your resume’s education section, and another option if it includes a separate honors section.
FAQs for Latin honors
Here are answers to common questions about formatting, meaning, and placement of Latin honors on a resume.
Is a 3.9 GPA magna or summa?
A 3.9 GPA often qualifies for summa cum laude, but this varies by university.
Some schools award magna cum laude at this level depending on grading policies or class ranking systems.
Always check your institution’s official honors criteria before listing a distinction on your resume.
Should you include your GPA with Latin honors?
In many cases, you do not need to include your GPA if you list cum laude or summa cum laude on your resume.
These honors already signal strong academic performance.
However, you may choose to add your GPA if an employer requests it or if your institution has especially rigorous grading standards.
Does graduating summa cum laude mean anything?
Graduating summa cum laude signals exceptionally strong academic performance and consistent achievement.
On a resume, it can help recent graduates demonstrate discipline, intellectual ability, and commitment to long-term goals.
Its impact is usually greatest early in a career or in academically focused fields.
Should summa cum laude be capitalized?
In most resume formats, summa cum laude should appear in lowercase and italics because it is a Latin academic phrase.
Capitalization is generally only used if the phrase begins a sentence or if your institution’s official wording uses a different style.
Always match the formatting shown on your diploma when possible.
Where should summa cum laude go on a resume?
Summa cum laude is usually listed in the education section next to your degree or on a separate line below it.
If you have several academic awards, you can also include it in a dedicated honors section.
The goal is to keep the distinction easy for recruiters to find without disrupting resume readability.
