University Honors

Latin Honors 

Unlike the President’s Honor Roll, which recognizes academic excellence achieved over a single semester, eligibility for the three categories of Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) are based on the cumulative grade point average for all undergraduate work at Rice.

Each academic year, at the end of the Spring semester and after receipt of all grades, graduating undergraduate recipients eligible for Latin Honors are determined by the following procedure:

  • summa cum laude - the grade point average within the highest five percent of the year’s graduating majors within each academic school is eligible to graduate with the honor.
  • magna cum laude - the grade point average included within the next highest 10 percent within each academic school is used to determine those eligible to graduate with the honor.
  • cum laude - the grade point average included within the next 15 percent within each academic school is used to determine those students eligible to graduate with the honor.

Thus, approximately 30 percent of each academic year's graduating class receive Latin Honors, with the exact number in each academic school dependent upon the number of graduates in that school.

For more information on Latin Honors, including the minimum GPA ranges by the academic school and by academic year, please visit the relevant Office of the Registrar webpage, available here.

Distinction in Research and Creative Work

Distinction in Research and Creative Work is a university award for select undergraduates, granted at Commencement, which appears on the transcript and diploma. Students must apply to be considered for the award, and the application must be supported by a letter from a faculty member (or center director). The most common path of application would be to the student's major department. A student whose research or other creative project is in a field outside of their major should submit an application to the academic department or program most closely associated with the subject matter of their project.

Eligibility for the award extends widely to include a variety of research, design, and other creative projects, as well as persistent dedication to research. Projects completed in part or entirely at other institutions or with community partners will be eligible for consideration.

Applicants must be in good academic standing at Rice at the time of their graduation. The award will be granted only to projects that produce a concrete outcome--e.g. an essay, invention, design, musical composition--and demonstrate commitment and/or achievement above and beyond the norm. Students who complete senior theses, senior design projects, or other required senior capstone projects are eligible and may submit their thesis or capstone project for consideration; however, these students do not qualify automatically for consideration for this university distinction.   

Responsibility for judging applications and determining those that merit the distinction award rests with the undergraduate degree programs or departments. Annually, departments and degree granting programs publish clear expectations and criteria for the research and design projects that will be considered for the award, as well as guidelines for what constitutes research or creative work above and beyond the norm within their respective fields. Departments may designate additional requirements as well, such as completion of a research seminar or oral defense.  

For more information on the Distinction in Research and Creative Work award, please visit the relevant Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry webpage, available here.