Academic Honors

MSU Denver annually recognizes students who show outstanding leadership and service to the University and community, excellence in scholastic achievement, and outstanding personal character and integrity. Due to wide variation in definition and interpretation of class rank, the University does not (by policy) rank its students or graduates. Recognition of students includes: The President’s Award (one senior); The Provost’s Award (one senior); Special Service- Student Affairs Award (one senior); Outstanding Fall Graduate Award (one senior); Outstanding Student Awards (one senior from each College/School); American Association of University Women (AAUW) Award (senior woman). Other awards include Special Service Award for Exceptionally Challenged Students, Charles W. Fisher Award and the Colorado Engineering Council Award.

In addition to annual awards, students with outstanding academic achievements are recognized by being named on the University’s Honor Lists. The President’s Honor List contains the names of students who, at the time of computation, have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher. The Provost’s Honor List contains the names of students who, at the time of computation, have achieved a cumulative GPA of between 3.50 and 3.84, inclusively. Computation will occur initially when the student has completed between 30 and 60 credits at MSU Denver, then again between 60 and 90 credits, and finally after more than 90 credits. Honors will only be computed three times in a student’s academic life at the University. Questions should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at 303-556-3991.

Graduation honors are awarded to students who have demonstrated superior academic ability in their baccalaureate degree while attending MSU Denver. Honors designations are determined according to the following criteria:

• Summa Cum Laude – All College of Business graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.89; all School of Education graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.93; all College of Health and Applied Sciences with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.90; all School of Hospitality graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.89; all College of Letters, Arts and Sciences with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.93.
• Magna Cum Laude – All College of Business graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.75; all School of Education graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.83; all College of Health and Applied Sciences with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.80; all School of Hospitality graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.75; all College of Letters, Arts and Sciences with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.87.
• Cum Laude – All MSU graduates with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.65.

The honors designation is calculated twice: once for the commencement ceremony; and again at the end of the final semester for the official designation. Students pursuing dual majors will have honors designation calculated for the primary major.

The required GPA for honors designation will be reviewed at least every five years.

Commencement Ceremony

To qualify for graduation honor recognition at the commencement ceremony, a student must have the specified GPA. UCD Pooled classes and other transfer credits are not considered when determining honors. Recognition at the commencement ceremony does not guarantee final honors designation on the official record. Honors announced at the commencement ceremony will be based upon a preliminary calculation not including grades from the term of graduation.

Students who qualify for recognition at the ceremony will be sent a letter from the dean’s office of the School in which their major is located. This letter authorizes students to pick-up honor cords during the cap and gown pick-up event. 

Graduates with an Individualized Degree Program major will be identified for honors purposes within the School most prominent in their major.

Official Honors Designation

Grades earned for the graduating term will affect honors. GPAs are not rounded up (for example: a GPA of 3.149 is not rounded to 3.15). The Official Honors designation will be calculated following the processing of final grades. This recalculation will take into consideration any grade changes submitted to the Registrar’s Office during your graduating term. Only the official honors designation is added to the final transcript and diploma.  A student must maintain the specified GPA and must complete a minimum of 50 semester hours of academic credit at MSU Denver by the term of graduation. UCD Pooled classes and other transfer credits are not considered when determining honors.

Honors designations are added to the student’s official academic record; no other notification will be sent. For additional information regarding graduation honors, contact the Office of the Registrar at 303-556-3991.

Graduation honors are awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated superior academic ability in their baccalaureate degree while attending MSU Denver. To determine each honors category, GPAs from the previous spring semester graduates are arrayed in rank order. This rank ordering is then used to determine the honors category thresholds for the following fall, spring and summer graduates.

Master’s students are not awarded Academic Honors due to the high GPA threshold or high academic standard a graduate student must meet to be accepted and the high standard the student must maintain.