University Undergraduate Advising Handbook

GRADUATION WITH DISTINCTION/GRADUATION WITH HONORS
(Senate Policy 88-00)

Graduation with distinction is awarded to baccalaureate degree candidates with at least 60 credits (30 credits for associate degree candidates) earned at Penn State who have a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and are in the top 12% of a college's graduating class. This 12% is then divided as follows: 6% "with distinction," 4% "with high distinction," and 2% "with highest distinction."

The grade-point averages required to graduate with distinction vary somewhat as they are recalculated for each graduating class. The cut off cumulative averages are determined annually for each college by the Registrar's office. The calculation is based on a five-year average of previous years' graduates.

A student's cumulative grade-point average at the end of his/her second to last semester is used to calculate whether or not he/she is graduating with distinction.

Graduation with honors is awarded to those students who have fulfilled the requirements of the Schreyer Honors College.

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information.

This page is part of the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, DUS@psu.edu.

Last Update: July 2009