How to Put Cum Laude on Your Resume

Latin honors show that you were among the top students in your college or university, making them a great addition to your resume. However, it’s not always clear where or how to list them.

Usually, you should add them to your education section, like so:

Decide if adding Latin honors adds value to your resume

Before you include honors on your resume, you should consider whether listing them adds value to your resume or is just a distraction.

For example, if you’ve been out of university for years already, employers won’t care if you graduated with honors because they’re more interested in your work experience.

You should only list cum laude on your resume in the following circumstances:

• You’re writing a resume as a recent college graduate
• You have minimal work experience
• You’re writing a resume for graduate school
• You’re applying for jobs in academia or law, where employers place importance on your educational background

If you have relevant work experience and have been out of school for 3-5 years or more, don’t list Latin honors on your resume.

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Add your honors to the right section

When listing summa cum laude or magna cum laude on your resume, always make sure they’re uncapitalized and in italics.

Latin honors can go in either of the following sections:

Education Section

If you’re listing cum laude in the education section of your resume, either put it on its own line below your degree or write it next to the name of your degree, separated by a comma.

Here’s an example of what Latin honors look like when listed in the education section:

Honors Section

If the resume template you’re using has a separate Honors section, then list your Latin honors in a bullet format alongside your other honors or awards. When listed in bullet format, you don’t need to italicize your honors.

Here’s an example of what cum laude looks like when listed in an Honors section:

Check out our video where career expert Eva shows you exactly where and how to put Latin honors in your education section:

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Our Expert:

Eva Chan

Other examples of Latin honors on a resume

Below are some examples that demonstrate how to list cum laude on a resume:

Magna cum laude on a resume (3 Examples)

Summa cum laude on a resume (3 Examples)