Cum Laude on Resume: When to Include It and How to List It

Key Takeaways

• Add cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude to your resume if it strengthens your Education section and is still relevant to the roles you want.
• Put Latin honors in your Education section unless you have several academic awards worth grouping in a separate Honors or Awards section.
• Keep the entry simple, accurate, and easy to scan. Your resume does not need a long explanation.

If you are wondering whether to put cum laude on your resume, the short answer is yes if it helps explain your academic strength and no if it takes space away from stronger, more relevant experience. For most job seekers, Latin honors matter most when you are early in your career, applying to graduate school, or targeting fields that still pay close attention to academic performance.

When to Include Cum Laude on a Resume

Include Latin honors when they add useful context to your application. That is usually true in a few situations:

• You are a recent graduate and your Education section still carries real weight.
• You have limited work experience and want to show strong academic performance.
• You are applying to graduate school, internships, fellowships, or academic roles.
• You are targeting employers or fields that often value academic distinction, such as law, finance, consulting, or research-heavy work.

If you have several years of strong, relevant experience, your work achievements usually matter more. In that case, cum laude can stay on the resume if space allows, but it does not need priority placement.

When to Leave It Off

Skip Latin honors if they do not help the story your resume is trying to tell.

Leave them out when:

• Your resume is already crowded and stronger experience needs the space.
• Your recent roles, projects, or certifications are more persuasive than your college record.
• The honor is unlikely to matter for the kind of role you are pursuing.

This is not about hiding an achievement. It is about choosing the most relevant proof for the reader.

Where to Put Latin Honors

In most cases, add Latin honors directly to your Education section. That keeps the information close to your degree and makes it easy for recruiters to scan.

Option 1: Same Line as the Degree

This is the cleanest choice for most resumes.

University of Michigan
Bachelor of Science in Biology, *cum laude*

Option 2: Same Entry With Additional Detail

Use this if you also want to include GPA, relevant coursework, or other academic distinctions.

University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Graduated *magna cum laude*

Option 3: Separate Honors Section

Create an Honors or Awards section only if you have multiple academic distinctions worth grouping together.

Honors
*summa cum laude*
Dean's List
Undergraduate Research Award

If cum laude is your only notable academic honor, the Education section is usually enough.

How to Format Cum Laude Correctly

Keep formatting consistent with the rest of your resume. Many job seekers write Latin honors in lowercase italics, but clarity matters more than strict style rules. The important part is to present the honor exactly as your school awarded it.

Use these basic rules:

• Match the official wording from your school records.
• Keep the formatting consistent across the resume.
• Do not over-explain the meaning unless the application specifically calls for detail.
• Include GPA only if it is strong, accurate, and useful for the role.

Should You Include GPA Too?

You do not need to include GPA just because you graduated with Latin honors.

Add GPA when:

• It is strong enough to help your candidacy.
• You are early in your career.
• The employer, internship program, or graduate program expects to see it.

Skip GPA when:

• It is average and does not add much value.
• You have stronger evidence from internships, projects, or work results.
• You are several years into your career and your academic record is no longer the best selling point.

Resume Examples

Here are a few realistic ways to list the honor.

Example for a Recent Graduate

Education
University of Florida
Bachelor of Science in Marketing, *cum laude*
May 2025

Example With GPA

Education
Boston University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, *magna cum laude*
GPA: 3.8/4.0

Example With Multiple Academic Honors

Education
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, *summa cum laude*

Honors
Dean's List
Undergraduate Teaching Award

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common problem is giving academic honors more emphasis than they deserve. Keep them visible, but not oversized.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Using too much space to explain a straightforward honor.
• Listing honors in a prominent section when stronger work achievements should lead.
• Including outdated academic details that no longer help your case.
• Writing the honor inconsistently across resume versions.

Final Advice

Add cum laude to your resume when it helps a recruiter quickly understand that you performed well academically and that detail still matters for the role. Put it in the Education section, keep the wording simple, and let it support the stronger parts of your application rather than dominate them.

If you are tailoring your resume for different jobs, Minova can help you adjust what stays in focus so academic honors support the application without taking space from more relevant experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put cum laude on my resume?

Yes, if it strengthens your application and still feels relevant. It is most useful for recent graduates, graduate school applicants, and candidates with limited experience.

Does cum laude belong in the Education section?

Usually, yes. That is the clearest and most common place to list it.

Should experienced professionals keep Latin honors on a resume?

They can, but it is optional. Once your work history becomes the stronger signal, Latin honors usually become secondary.