Graduation with Honors

A student who has complied with all requirements for the degree of Juris Doctor, and whose scholastic achievements, in the judgment of the Faculty, have been outstanding, will be recommended for the degree with honors. The graduating student with the highest cumulative average in the day and evening divisions will be awarded the degree summa cum laude; the Faculty may in its discretion also award the graduation honors summa cum laude to additional students.

Honors will be determined as follows:

Summa Cum Laude: Students in the top 3 percent in each division.
Magna Cum Laude: Students in top 8 percent in each division but below the standard for Summa Cum Laude.
Cum Laude: Students in top 25 percent in each division but below the standard for Magna Cum Laude.

For the purposes of determining honors, the January and May graduates of the same calendar year will be considered the graduating class. Honor determinations for September graduates will be based on the honor determinations made in the preceding May of the same calendar year. Students are eligible for honors only in the calendar year and division in which they actually graduate regardless of Leaves of Absence, early degree completion, change of division or any other change (unexpected or not) to their anticipated graduation date.