Summa cum laude is a Latin phrase which means “with highest honors.” It is used to recognize certain students who have graduated with academic distinction, most commonly at the undergraduate level, although Latin honors are sometimes granted to high school and graduate students as well. Graduating summa cum laude is quite an achievement, as this honor is the most prestigious possible, and it is quite rare.

Graduation standards vary widely from school to school, and students who wish to graduate with honors would be well-advised to have a talk with the counseling office early in their academic careers to find out what the criteria for Latin honors are. As a general rule, the student must have a very high grade point average, and he or she may also need to complete an honors thesis, workshop, or project. Sometimes extracurricular activities are required as well, to show that the student is fully engaged with his or her community. Sometimes letters of recommendation or nomination for honors must be submitted as well.

When someone graduates “cum laude,” it literally means that he or she graduated “with praise.” A cum laude degree reflects some academic distinction, showing that the student put serious effort into study and research while in school. The next highest honor is “magna cum laude,” meaning “with great praise.” The “summa cum laude” is the highest of all, indicating great academic distinction.

Being able to say that one has graduated summa cum laude isn't just a bragging point. Latin honors are usually announced at graduations, giving the audience a chance to celebrate distinguished students, but they are also included on resumes and college applications. A summa cum laude distinction tends to draw attention, allowing the applicant to stand out from the crowd, especially if it is from a prestigious university.

Not all schools offer Latin honors; some schools use different terms for their honors programs, while others don't allow honors at all. People who are curious about honors programs and awards can usually get information from academic advisers or from the heads of academic departments.