At the university, honors are given to recognize outstanding academic performance and to motivate students to succeed and pursue scholarly excellence. Every undergraduate who meets the eligibility criteria receives these honors. Some students may also receive certificates from their college or honor cords during graduation ceremonies for certain types of honors.
Dean's List
Each academic college recognizes its top students by placing them on the Dean's List. To qualify, students must be full-time undergraduates and maintain at least a 3.4 GPA while earning at least 12 credit hours in the previous semester. This recognition is given only at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Part-time students can also qualify for the spring Dean's List if they achieve a 3.4 GPA and accumulate at least 12 credit hours combined for the fall and spring terms.
Courses with grades of I, AU, CR, CRX and PR do not count toward the minimum 12 hours requirement, but do not disqualify, as long as the student has an additional 12 hours or more of earned credit at the time of the Dean's List calculation. Students who receive grades of D, F, or NC are automatically ineligible for Dean’s List recognition.
Developmental courses do not count toward meeting eligibility requirements (including but not limited to):
- ENGL 1509, 1512, 1541
- RSS 1510 A, B, C
- MATH 1500, 1500R
Courses at the 6900 level or above will count toward meeting the Dean’s List eligibility requirements.
Recipients receive a certificate from their academic college and are officially announced on the YSU Merit Page website.
President's List
To qualify for President’s List, students must be full-time undergraduates and achieve a 4.0 GPA while earning at least 12 credit hours in the previous semester. This recognition is given only at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Part-time students can also qualify for the spring President's List if they achieve a 4.0 GPA and accumulate at least 12 credit hours combined for the fall and spring terms.
Recipients receive a certificate from the Office of the President and are officially announced on the YSU Merit Page website.
Graduation Honors
Undergraduate graduation candidates who rank high scholastically are awarded graduation honors. The GPA for determining graduation honors is calculated using all YSU grades, including original grades deducted from accumulative totals as a result of an approved Repetition/Recalculation form and/or an approved Academic Reassessment form, etc. The GPA for graduation honors is extended to two decimal places and not rounded up. When calculating the GPA for graduation honors, only YSU undergraduate credit is considered; no transfer credit is included in the calculation. A student who has processed an approved Academic Forgiveness form is ineligible for graduation honors.
Baccalaureate degree students:
Who have a minimum of 60 semester hours completed at YSU will be awarded Latin Honors as follows:
- Summa Cum Laude: Awarded to those who attain a grade point average of 3.8 or higher
- Magna Cum Laude: Awarded to those who attain a grade point average of less than 3.8 but not less than 3.6
- Cum Laude: Awarded to those who attain a quality point average of less than 3.6 but not less than 3.4
Who have a minimum of 30 semester hours completed at YSU but less than 60 semester hours at YSU will be awarded honors as follows:
- Highest Honors: student has earned a GPA of 3.8 or higher
- Great Honors: student has earned a GPA of less than 3.8 but not less than 3.6
- Honors: student has earned a GPA of less than 3.6 but not less than 3.4
Associate Degree Students:
Who have a minimum of 40 semester hours completed at YSU will be awarded honors as follows:
- With High Honors: student has earned a GPA of 3.7
- With Honors: student has earned a GPA of less than 3.7 but not less than 3.4
Who have a minimum of 20 semester hours completed at YSU but less than 40 semester hours at YSU will be awarded honors as follows:
- Highest Honors: student has earned a GPA of 3.8 or higher
- Great Honors: student has earned a GPA of less than 3.8 but not less than 3.6
- Honors: student has earned a GPA of less than 3.6 but not less than 3.4
Other Awards and Honors
Other accolades in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and service are presented through the various colleges and departments.
Contact for Questions/Concerns
Office: Office of Academic Affairs
Location: Tod Hall
Website: https://ysu.edu/provost