Dean's List and Academic Honors

Dean’s List

To be eligible for Dean's List, a student must be enrolled at Barnard, on Morningside Heights (or on a Columbia program abroad) and complete at least 12 letter-graded points with a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the term. (P-graded points are excluded.) The grade point average will be based on all letter grades in the A to F range.

First-year students will be required to complete at least 9 letter-graded points with a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the term. (P-graded points are excluded.)

College Honors

The Faculty awards honors to students who complete work for the degree with distinction (cum laude), with high distinction (magna cum laude), and with highest distinction (summa cum laude).

Honors are determined by a student’s final cumulative Barnard GPA, with the top 5 percent of the graduating class being awarded summa cum laude, the next 10 percent being awarded magna cum laude, and the remaining 20 percent awarded cum laude. Beginning with the February and May 2022 graduating classes, study at other institutions (transfer, summer school, study leave) will not be factored into a student’s Latin honors eligibility.

The values determining Latin Honors will change each year.

A student with a final cumulative grade point average matching or exceeding the cutoff average for the top 5% of graduates of the last three years will be awarded the degree summa cum laude.

A student with a final cumulative grade point average matching or exceeding the cutoff average for the top 10% of graduates (and below the cutoff average for the top 5% of graduates) of the last three years will be awarded the degree magna cum laude.

A student with a final cumulative grade point average matching or exceeding the cutoff average for the top 20% of graduates (and below the cutoff average for the top 10% of graduates) of the last three years will be awarded the degree cum laude.

Latin honors appear on both the transcript and the diploma.

Departmental honors are awarded for distinguished work in the major to no more than 20% of graduates, as nominated by their major departments, and conferred by the Committee on Honors. Departmental honors display on student transcripts but not diplomas.

Phi Beta Kappa

The Barnard section of the Columbia University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1901. Election to the national honor society is a recognition of scholarship, and Barnard students of exceptionally high standing are eligible. Junior election will require a minimum of 86 completed points, and senior election, 102. Students do not apply for membership; they are elected by Barnard faculty members who are themselves members of Phi Beta Kappa.