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Last Revision: October 29, 2024

University Honors Designation

Effective, June 1, 2019, American Public University and American Military University will no longer award the University Honors designation for any academic degree awarded. Any student who was awarded the university honors designation prior to June 1st will retain that designation on their conferred degree. Students pursuing Bachelor degrees will be able to earn Latin Honors if they meet the criteria. Please refer to the Latin Honors section in the Student Handbook for more information.  

The date that you were admitted into your current program is what determines the requirements for university honors designation upon graduation. If you were disenrolled and readmitted, your program will follow the honors requirements current at your date of readmission.

Associate and Bachelor's degrees

  • Admitted on or after April 1, 2003 and conferred by June 1, 2019: cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
  • Admitted before April 1, 2003 and conferred by June 1, 2019: cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.

Master's degrees

  • Admitted before Oct 1, 1996 with Degree Path including a final Capstone Course: Grade of A on final course and GPA of 4.0 results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript.
  • Admitted after Fall 1996 with a degree conferred prior to Nov 1, 2014 which includes a Final Comprehensive Exam: Grade of PD on Comprehensive Exam and cumulative GPA 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
  • Admitted between Oct. 1, 1996, and April 30, 2011 with a degree conferred prior to Nov 1, 2014 which includes a Capstone/Practicum: Completing the Capstone Option or the Thesis/Practicum as a program requirement or in lieu of the Final Comprehensive Exam with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma. If you need to retake the final course requirement after an initial failure, you will not be eligible for honors designation, regardless of your final grade and GPA.
  • Admitted on or after May 1, 2011 with a degree conferred prior to Nov 1, 2014 which includes a Capstone/Practicum: Completing the Capstone Option or the Thesis/Practicum as a program requirement or in lieu of the Final Comprehensive Exam with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater with an A or above in the Capstone/Thesis/Practicum course results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma. If you need to retake the final course requirement after an initial failure, you will not be eligible for honors designation, regardless of your final grade and GPA.
  • Admitted on or after Oct. 1, 1996 with degree conferred after Nov 1, 2014 and by June 1, 2019: Completing any master's degree option with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
  • Students in any Master of Education program that conferred June 1, 2019 or earlier with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
  • Please refer to the Your Course Grades section of the Student Handbook for detailed information.

Questions regarding your GPA calculation or other honors factors may be directed to [email protected].