Cum Laude Philippines Complete Guide to Latin Honors, GWA Requirements & Rules

Cum Laude in the Philippines requires a cumulative General Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.46 to 1.75 (87–92%) across your entire college career, zero failing grades on the complete transcript, zero unresolved INC grades at graduation, and no academic disciplinary record.

Philippine universities award three Latin honors under CHED Memorandum Order No. 19, s. 2018: Summa Cum Laude (GWA 1.00–1.20), Magna Cum Laude (1.21–1.45), and Cum Laude (1.46–1.75).

Latin Honors in the Philippines Overview

Latin honors are the highest academic distinctions awarded at graduation. They are printed permanently on your diploma, announced at commencement, and recorded on your Transcript of Records. Under CHED Memorandum Order No. 19, s. 2018, all CHED-accredited Higher Education Institutions must follow minimum standards though universities may apply stricter thresholds.

Latin Honor	Cumulative GWA	Percentage	US GPA	Non-Negotiable Requirements
Summa Cum Laude	1.00 – 1.20	96–100%	≥3.80	Zero 5.00 on entire transcript. Zero unresolved INC. No disciplinary record.
Magna Cum Laude	1.21 – 1.45	93–95%	3.55–3.79	Zero 5.00 on entire transcript. Zero unresolved INC. No disciplinary record.
Cum Laude	1.46 – 1.75	87–92%	3.25–3.54	Zero 5.00 on entire transcript. Zero unresolved INC. No disciplinary record.
Dean’s List	GWA ≤1.75 per semester	87–89%	≥3.25	Semestral only. No 5.00, no INC in that specific semester.

Cum Laude What It Means and What It Requires

GWA Requirement: 1.46 to 1.75

Cum Laude requires a cumulative GWA of 1.46 to 1.75 computed from every subject across your entire college career, from first subject in first year to last subject in final semester. This is not your semestral GWA and not an average of semestral GWAs. It is the weighted average of every grade and every credit unit using: Σ(Grade × Units) ÷ Total Units.

A GWA of 1.75 corresponds to 87–89 percent the same threshold as the Dean’s List minimum each semester. Students consistently making the Dean’s List are building directly toward Cum Laude graduation.

The Zero-Failure Rule Most Critical Condition

CRITICAL: This is the condition that disqualifies most students who would otherwise qualify by GWA alone:

• A single failing grade of 5.00 anywhere on the complete transcript any subject, any semester, any year permanently disqualifies from ALL Latin honors.
• It does not matter how excellent all other grades are.
• It does not matter if you retook the subject and passed the second time.
• The original 5.00 remains on transcript and permanently disqualifies.

This is why students with even one 5.00 in first year cannot graduate Cum Laude, Magna, or Summa regardless of all subsequent performance. The moment a 5.00 appears, all Latin honor eligibility closes permanently.

INC Grades and Latin Honors

An unresolved INC (Incomplete) at graduation evaluation also disqualifies, even if GWA is within range. Once resolved with a final grade, it is included in cumulative GWA. If the resolved grade is 5.00, the zero-failure rule then applies.

Residency Requirement

Most universities require completing at least 75 percent of total program units at the awarding institution. UP Diliman requires full residence for Summa and Magna candidates. Students who transferred must confirm whether transferred units count toward residency.

Magna Cum Laude Second Highest Latin Honor

Magna Cum Laude requires cumulative GWA 1.21–1.45, corresponding to 93–95 percent. Students graduating Magna are highly competitive for:

• CHED Faculty Development Program (FDP) grants for graduate studies
• DOST-SEI graduate scholarship programs
• Management trainee programs at top Philippine corporations
• Law and medical school admissions at competitive institutions
• International graduate programs 3.55+ US GPA equivalent

Summa Cum Laude Highest Latin Honor

Summa Cum Laude requires cumulative GWA 1.00–1.20 96–100 percent across the entire college career. A single grade of 1.25 in enough high-unit subjects can push a student above 1.20. At UP, Summa additionally requires normal academic load each semester, full residence, and zero disciplinary record.

University-Specific Latin Honors Rules

University	Summa	Magna	Cum Laude	Key Special Rule
UP Diliman	≤1.20	≤1.45	≤1.75	Normal load each sem. Resident credit only. No suspension.
UST	≤1.20	≤1.45	≤1.75	Dean’s List: GWA ≤1.75 AND no subject above 2.00. Both conditions required.
PUP	≤1.20	≤1.45	≤1.75	Standard CHED thresholds. Zero failing grades throughout program.
NU	≤1.20	≤1.45	≤1.75	No INC, no 5.00 on complete transcript.
Northwestern	1.00–1.25	1.26–1.50	1.51–1.75	No grade below 2.0. Full residence for Summa/Magna.
CHED minimum	≤1.20	≤1.45	≤1.75	Advisory only. Universities may apply stricter thresholds.

CHED Policy CMO No. 19, s. 2018

CHED Memorandum Order No. 19, s. 2018 is the governing framework for Latin honors in the Philippines. Key provisions:

• GWA must include all academic subjects: PE, NSTP, theology, ROTC, and all electives
• No failing grades permitted on complete program transcript
• Residency: at least 75% of units completed at awarding institution
• No academic disciplinary violations cheating, dishonesty, or suspension of one year or more
• Normal academic load required each semester unless justified by health or valid cause
• Summer class grades are included in cumulative GWA computation

How to Qualify for Cum Laude Strategy

Start Strong in First Year

Every grade from first year counts toward cumulative GWA. A 5.00 in first year permanently ends Latin honor eligibility. Students targeting Cum Laude should aim for semestral GWA of 1.50 or better in first year as a buffer for harder semesters ahead.

Focus on High-Unit Major Subjects

Because GWA is weighted by units, improving a 5-unit major subject produces 5× the GWA improvement of a 1-unit elective. Use our free GWA Calculator Philippines to project exactly what grades you need in remaining subjects to reach your target.

Never Let Any Subject Reach 5.00

If struggling mid-semester with no realistic path to passing, dropping before the official deadline is always preferable to failing. A DRP at UP is excluded from GWA. An official drop does not count. A 5.00 permanently closes the door to Latin honors this is the single most important tactical decision for students targeting graduation honors.

Frequently Asked Questions Cum Laude Philippines

What GWA do I need for Cum Laude in the Philippines?

Cum Laude requires cumulative GWA 1.46–1.75 (87–92%). Use our free GWA Calculator to track your cumulative GWA. Zero failing grades on entire transcript are also required — a single 5.00 permanently disqualifies.

Can I still get Cum Laude if I failed one subject?

No. A single 5.00 anywhere on the complete transcript permanently disqualifies from all Latin honors regardless of cumulative GWA. No exceptions under CHED CMO No. 19, s. 2018.

Is Cum Laude based on cumulative or semestral GWA?

Cumulative GWA the weighted average of all subjects across your entire college career. Semestral GWA determines Dean’s List each term. Latin honors at graduation are based exclusively on cumulative GWA.

What is the difference between Cum Laude and Dean’s List?

Dean’s List is semestral — awarded when GWA ≤1.75 in a specific semester with no failing grades and no INC that term. It resets every semester. Cum Laude is a graduation honor based on cumulative GWA across all semesters.

Does Cum Laude appear on my diploma?

Yes. Latin honors are permanently printed on your official diploma and announced at commencement. They are recorded on your Transcript of Records and cannot be revoked after graduation except in cases of academic fraud.

Does retaking a failed subject restore Latin honor eligibility?

No. Even if you retake and pass the second time, the original 5.00 remains on transcript. The retake is recorded separately. The original failing grade disqualifies permanently regardless of retake result.

What is the Cum Laude percentage equivalent in the Philippines?

Cum Laude corresponds to GWA 1.46–1.75, equivalent to 87–92 percent. In US GPA terms, approximately 3.25–3.54.

What GWA is needed for Summa Cum Laude?

Summa Cum Laude requires cumulative GWA 1.00–1.20, equivalent to 96–100 percent. All the same conditions apply: zero failing grades, zero unresolved INC, no disciplinary record.