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Graduating with Honors

Baccalaureate Degrees with Honors

When determining eligibility for honors, repeated courses and grades awarded in all courses taken at all colleges and universities attended are included in computing the Grade Point Average (GPA). 

The Baccalaureate Degrees with Honors are awarded as follows:

      • Cum laude
         Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.51 or above, but below 3.63

      • Magna cum laude 
         Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.63 or above, but below 3.87
      • Summa cum laude
         Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.87 or above

To qualify for honors, a student must have earned at least 60 semester hours within the University of Nebraska system, 30 hours of which must be completed at the University of Nebraska Omaha and in which letter grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D” are received.

Students who declare Academic Amnesty are not eligible to graduate with honors.

Engineering students with outstanding scholastic records are automatically considered for the special honor of graduation With Distinction, With High Distinction, or With Highest Distinction upon the recommendation of the College faculty. College of Engineering procedures are that the top 8% of the graduating class for the current academic year (Fall through Summer semesters) may graduate with a level of distinction. The top 2% may graduate with High or Highest Distinction, and the next 6% may graduate with Distinction. Each department has additional requirements for students meeting the GPA requirement for graduation with High Distinction to be eligible for graduation with Highest Distinction.


It should be noted that the GPA displayed in MavLINK as the NU GPA or NU Cumulative GPA as well as the GPA displayed in the Degree Works degree audit reflects only courses taken at UNO, UNL, UNMC, and UNK.

Baccalaureate Degrees with Honors Extra Muros

When determining eligibility for honors, repeated courses and grades awarded in all courses taken at all colleges and universities attended are included in computing the Grade Point Average (GPA). 

Honors Extra Muros are awarded to transfer students who have not completed the required 60 semester hours of credit within the University of Nebraska system required for cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors.

To be eligible for Honors Extra Muros transfer students must meet both the following standards and requirements:

  • Have a minimum of 24 graded credit hours from UNO
  • Have a minimum of 77 graded credit hours

If those requirements have been met, baccalaureate degrees with Honors Extra Muros are awarded as follows:

  • Cum laude
    Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.51 or above, but below 3.63

  • Magna cum laude 
     Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.63 or above, but below 3.87
  • Summa cum laude
     Have a scholastic average for their entire undergraduate career of 3.87 or above