Where To Put Latin Honors On Resume

Should you list cum laude on a resume?

You should list cum laude on a resume in the following circumstances:

You're writing a resume as a recent college graduate
You have minimal work experience
You're writing a resume for graduate school
You're applying for jobs in academia or law, where employers give importance to your educational background

Latin honors on your resume show that you were among the top students in your college or university, making them strong additions to your resume.

However, most employers value your professional experience over your educational achievements. If you have relevant work experience and have been out of school for 3-5 years or more, don't list Latin honors on your resume.

How to properly list your Latin honors

When listing summa cum laude or magna cum laude on your resume, always make sure they're uncapitalized and in italics.

Here's the correct way to include Latin honors on your resume, depending on its resume section:

Education Section: If you're listing cum laude in the education section, put it on its own line below your degree, or written next to the name of your degree, separated by a comma.

Here's an example of what Latin honors look like when listed in the education section:

An example of how to list cum laude on a resume education section

Honors Section: If you're using a separate "Honors" section, then list your Latin honors in a bullet format alongside your other honors or awards. When listed in bullet format, you don't need to italicize your honors.

Here's an example of what cum laude looks like when listed in an "Honors" section:

An example of magna cum laude in a resume honors section

Examples of Latin honors on a resume

Here are some examples that demonstrate how to list cum laude on a resume.

Magna Cum Laude on a Resume (3 Examples)

Example #1

University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
magna cum laude (GPA 3.8)

Example #2

New York University
Master of Science in Chemistry, magna cum laude

Guttman Community College
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Example #3

Bachelor of Arts: Major in History, Minor in Philosophy
Honors: magna cum laude
GPA 3.6/4, Dean's list for 5 semesters

Summa Cum Laude on a Resume (3 Examples)

Example #1

Honors

summa cum laude
Dean's List at University of Chicago (Last 4 Semesters)
Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, President 2019-2020

Example #2

Honors

Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, 2019-2020
Outstanding Student in Liberal Arts Award, 2020
summa cum laude
Beta Theta Pi Honors Society

Example #3

Honors

summa cum laude
President's List, 2020
Beta Phi Mu Honors Society
Carl Anthony Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Conrad Benz

Written by Conrad Benz

Conrad Benz is a Digital Media Specialist & Resume Expert at Resume Genius, where he helps countless job-seekers craft standout resumes and launch their careers. His... more