What Is the Dean's List? | BestColleges (2024)

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Danika Miller is a senior writer at BestColleges and Accredited Schools Online. Her writing has also appeared in Grad School Hub, Best Value Schools, Affordable Colleges Online, and Her Campus. Her financial expertise has been featured in The Simple ...

Updated on March 21, 2023

By

Danika MillerRead Full Bio

Writer & Editor

Danika Miller is a senior writer at BestColleges and Accredited Schools Online. Her writing has also appeared in Grad School Hub, Best Value Schools, Affordable Colleges Online, and Her Campus. Her financial expertise has been featured in The Simple ...

Updated on March 21, 2023

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  • A top percentage of students who finish the term with a high GPA earn a spot on the dean's list.
  • The dean's list is for full-time undergrads, but eligibility will vary by school.
  • Having the award on your transcript will appeal to grad school admissions and employers.
  • Universities also offer academic awards like the president's list and chancellor's list.

Earning a spot on the dean's list at your college is one the highest levels of recognition for scholarly achievement. Every term, the highest-ranked students based on GPA receive this award.

Each institution has slightly different qualifications for the dean's list, as well as different frequencies. Some schools issue a dean's list quarterly, while others may only release a list annually. Making the dean's list is a significant accomplishment that students should be proud of and can display on their resumes.

What Is the Dean's List?

The dean's list is a scholarly award for students who demonstrate academic excellence. The award is based on GPA, though specific qualifications for making the dean's list will vary by university and can change each semester.

The dean's list is a comparative award at many universities, awarded to the top percentage of students rather than everyone who earns a certain GPA. During a particularly competitive semester, where many students earn high grades, the GPA you need to qualify for the award may be higher.

The dean's list gets released each semester or quarter after final grades have been posted. Some schools also have an annual dean's list that combines your GPA for the entire year.

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How to Make the Dean's List

Dean's list requirements will vary by school and can change each award cycle. The award is given to a top percentile of students, like the top 10% or 25%. The exact dean's list GPA requirements will depend on each particular pool of students, but is usually at least a 3.5 GPA.

To be eligible, you'll also need to be a full-time student taking a minimum number of credits (often around 12 credits). Some schools, particularly community colleges, will include part-time students in the dean's list.

Classes graded with pass/fail or S/U don't count toward the GPA calculation. Additionally, you will lose eligibility for the award if you have any incompletes, no shows, or late grades — even if you earned the qualifying GPA.

Sometimes the qualifications will be different depending on your degree program. For example, at the University of Connecticut you need a 3.88 GPA if you're in engineering, but a 4.0 GPA if you're in the social work program.

How Can Making the Dean's List Benefit You?

Earning a spot on the dean's list offers the same benefits that any prestigious recognition of academic excellence does: personal achievement and a gold star on your resume.

Making the dean's list is an excellent way to commemorate your hard work during the semester and have evidence that you were academically ranked in the top percentage of students at the university.

Having the award on your transcript could impress graduate schools. The dean's list recognition can also be great to add to your professional resume, website, or LinkedIn profile. Employers may recognize the award and value the dedication, focus, and hard work it takes to make the dean's list.

What Other Academic Awards Can You Earn in College?

The dean's list isn't the only award college students can win for academic performance. Other common awards that universally distinguish academic excellence include the honors list, the president's list, and the chancellor's list. The availability of these awards and the qualifications for making each list will vary by university.

  • The Honors List

    The honors list is similar to the dean's list but with a lower GPA qualification. For example, a school might award students with a GPA between 3.7 and 4.0 a spot on the dean's list while students with a GPA between 3.3 and 3.6 would make the honors list.

  • The President's List

    The president's list is an award for undergraduates who achieve a 4.0 GPA. Unlike the dean's list, part-time students are eligible for the president's list. The award is issued each semester.

  • The Chancellor's List

    The chancellor's list is less common, but at universities that have this award, it will rank higher than the dean's list. Students who earn a 3.8 or higher may earn the chancellor's list award, while students who earn a 3.5 or higher may get on the dean's list.

We recommend reaching out to an academic advisor or checking your school's website for varying award cycles and specific eligibility requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Dean's List

Can graduate students make the dean's list?

No, only undergraduate students can make the dean's list. Some universities have an additional graduate dean's list for graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Do online students qualify for the dean's list?

Yes, online students are eligible for the dean's list at most universities. Online students will still have to meet the same qualifications regarding GPA and credit load.

Do you have to apply to be considered for the dean's list?

No, universities automatically compile the list and distribute awards. The dean's list is based on student GPAs once final grades for the term have been submitted.

When is the dean's list announced?

The dean's list is usually announced after all grades have been finalized and posted for the semester or quarter. You should then receive a certificate and letter emailed to your student account notifying you of the award. Some universities hold ceremonies or small events for those who make the dean's list.

Feature Image: Matt Cardy / Stringer / Getty Images News / Getty Images

What Is the Dean's List? | BestColleges (2024)

FAQs

What Is the Dean's List? | BestColleges? ›

Students with a semester average of 3.50 or better (minimum of 12 credits of computable grades) are placed on the Dean's List.

What GPA is a dean's list? ›

The dean's list GPA requirements vary from school to school, although there are general standards: With the GPA scale from 0 to 4, 4 being an A, the dean's list cutoff is typically around 3.5 to 3.7.

Is the Dean's List a big deal? ›

Earning a spot on the dean's list at your college is one the highest levels of recognition for scholarly achievement. Every term, the highest-ranked students based on GPA receive this award.

What does it mean if you are on the Dean's List? ›

Students who make the dean's list are recognized for outstanding academic achievement. Benefits include personal achievement, prestige, public recognition, the opportunity to attend special events, being granted scholarships, and standing out on job applications.

Is Dean's list all A's? ›

The Dean's & President's Lists are ways for students to be recognized for academic achievement within a given semester. The Dean's List is a list of students that received A's and B's for the semester. The President's List is a list of students that received all A's for the semester.

Is Dean's List rare? ›

According to a study by the National Center for Educational Statistics, approximately 30% of undergraduate students in the United States make the Dean's List each year. The percentage of students on the Dean's List are more likely to have academic success in their future careers as a result.

What's higher, president or dean's list? ›

Undergraduate students who complete a minimum of 12 credits during a given semester with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 to 3.799 are placed on the Dean's List. Undergraduate students who achieve a GPA of 3.80 or above are placed on the President's List.

How prestigious is deans list? ›

According to The University Network, students named to the dean's list are among the top 1-5% of their class. That is certainly an amazing accomplishment!

Is it difficult to get on the dean's list? ›

To make the Dean's List, you generally need a good semester GPA, often around 3.5 or higher. It's a bit more accessible because you can work on making it each semester, and it's based on your performance in that specific term.

Can I put Dean's list on my resume? ›

You should always list the Dean's list in your resume education section because it's part of your educational history. Place the dean's list next to the GPA on your resume. This line belongs beneath the name, city, and state of your university, as well as your degree title and graduation year.

What is the highest honor in college? ›

Summa cum laude is the highest honor awarded by educational institutions. It is given to students whose academic performance and mastery of their chosen field exceeds that of nearly all other students in their field. Stanford University.

Is Dean's list better than Honor Roll? ›

Those students who have earned a 3.75 to 4.0 GPA for the quarter are placed on the Dean's List. Those students who have earned a 3.25 to 3.749 GPA for the quarter are placed on the Honors List.

Why does it say dean's list on my transcript? ›

Undergraduate students showing outstanding academic achievement are recognized by term with the award of Dean's List or Dean's List with Distinction. The student's transcript will have a notation that they have received the award for that term.

How much GPA is Dean's List? ›

Deans' List. The Dean's List, published at the end of each semester, contains the names of students who have earned a GPA between 3.5—3.99*. To be eligible, students must have completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester credits of letter-graded (A, B, C, D, F) coursework; pass/no credit coursework is not included.

Is a 3.7 good in college? ›

Most commonly, students graduate cum laude (Latin for "with praise") when they earn a 3.5-3.7 GPA, magna cum laude ("with great praise") when they earn a 3.7-3.9 GPA, and summa cum laude ("with highest praise") when they earn a 3.9 GPA or higher.

What is the average GPA? ›

What is the average GPA? The average GPA across all U.S. high schools is 3.0 while the average GPA across all U.S. colleges is 3.1. These numbers will vary significantly between school districts and colleges.

What GPA is an Honor Roll? ›

Typically, schools set a minimum GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 for honor roll, but some schools might have higher benchmarks, especially for distinctions like 'High Honor Roll' or 'Principal's List. ' Your school's handbook or counseling office should have the specific criteria listed.

Is 1.75 a dean's Lister? ›

Outstanding scholastic achievement shall be recognized at the end of each semester through the publication of the Dean's List. To qualify, a student must: Carry no less than the regular curriculum load for his or her course. Must have a grade point average of at least 1.75.

Is a 3.7 good in College? ›

Most commonly, students graduate cum laude (Latin for "with praise") when they earn a 3.5-3.7 GPA, magna cum laude ("with great praise") when they earn a 3.7-3.9 GPA, and summa cum laude ("with highest praise") when they earn a 3.9 GPA or higher.

Is dean's list in College impressive? ›

According to The University Network, students named to the dean's list are among the top 1-5% of their class. That is certainly an amazing accomplishment!

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