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 undergraduate 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.
Courses at the 6900 level or above will count toward meeting the Dean’s List eligibility requirements.
Recipients 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 students who achieve high academic performance may graduate with honors.
The GPA used to determine graduation honors includes all undergraduate coursework completed at Youngstown State University, including original grades excluded from the cumulative GPA through approved Repetition/Recalculation or Academic Reassessment processes. Transfer credit is not included in the graduation honors calculation.
The graduation honors GPA is calculated to two decimal places and is not rounded.
Students approved for Academic Forgiveness are not eligible for graduation honors.
Graduation honors recognized at commencement ceremonies and listed in commencement materials are based on coursework completed prior to the final term and may differ from honors officially awarded on the transcript and diploma.
Baccalaureate degree students:
Students with 60 or More YSU Semester Hours
Students who complete at least 60 semester hours at YSU may earn Latin Honors:
- Summa Cum Laude: GPA of 3.80 or higher
- Magna Cum Laude: GPA of 3.60 to 3.79
- Cum Laude: GPA of 3.40 to 3.59
Students with 30–59 YSU Semester Hours
Students who complete at least 30 but fewer than 60 semester hours at YSU may earn honors distinctions:
- Highest Honors: GPA of 3.80 or higher
- Great Honors: GPA of 3.60 to 3.79
- Honors: GPA of 3.40 to 3.59
Associate degree students:
Students with 40 or More YSU Semester Hours
Students who complete at least 40 semester hours at YSU may earn honors distinctions:
- With High Honors: GPA of 3.70 or higher
- With Honors: GPA of 3.40 to 3.69
Students with 20–39 YSU Semester Hours
Students who complete at least 20 but fewer than 40 semester hours at YSU may earn honors distinctions:
- Highest Honors: GPA of 3.80 or higher
- Great Honors: GPA of 3.60 to 3.79
- Honors: GPA of 3.40 to 3.59
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