What is Magna Cum Laude?
Magna cum laude is Latin for with great honor.
How Does Magna Cum Laude Work?
Let's say John Doe is about to graduate college. He has a very high grade point average and has earned several awards from the finance department in which he is studying. Because he is graduating in the top 5% of his class, John Doe's university bestows the magna cum laude honor on him at graduation.
It is important to note that every college sets its own standards regarding who receives the designation.
Why Does Magna Cum Laude Matter?
Graduating magna cum laude is often a prestigious reward for hard work in undergraduate or graduate work. The designation is less prestigious than summa cum laude (with highest honor), but is more prestigious than cum laude (with honor).