• Commencement Information

  • Attire and Flowers
  • Accessibility Information
  • Diplomas
  • Graduation Eligibility, Application and Fees
  • Latin Honors and Regalia
  • Parking Information
  • Alcohol Policy, Prohibited Items and Clear Bag Checks
  • Traditions, Memorabilia, & Mementos
  • Weather Policy
  • School Marshals
  • The Hub
• Previous Commencements

Cumulative GPA Requirements for Latin Honors

• 3.900 to 4.000 Summa cum laude
• 3.750 to 3.899 Magna cum laude
• 3.500 to 3.749 Cum laude

To be eligible for graduation with honors, at least 62 quality* hours (QHRS) of the coursework to be applied to the degree must have been completed at the College of Charleston. All coursework taken at the College of Charleston will be included in the calculation of the GPA for graduation with honors.

*Note that a course graded with a "P" carries no quality hours.

Latin Honors Recognition at Commencement

Latin Honors recognized at Commencement are presumptive and are based on the cumulative GPA that the student has earned in the term prior to the graduation term (i.e., before graduation term grades are posted). Cumulative quality hours + enrolled hours must equal 62 or higher to qualify — courses graded with a "P" do not carry quality hours and are not included

Latin honors recognition at commencement is preliminary. The transcript and diploma will denote final earned Latin honors upon successful completion of all requirements.

Honors Medallions

Students who are recognized for Latin honors at commencement will receive an honors medallion on a maroon ribbon to wear at the ceremony. Latin honors medallions will be distributed at the commencement ceremony.  

For more information on Latin Honors Recognition at Commencement, visit the Graduation with Honors website.

Other Regalia

The commencement ceremony celebrates the successful completion of an academic degree. To this end, all regalia (e.g., cords, medals, medallions, sashes, stoles, ribbons, pins, collars or other appropriate graduation paraphernalia) worn during the ceremony should represent notable achievements and/or experiences of a student’s academic life at the College of Charleston. The Office of the Provost retains the official list of all sanctioned regalia. To request wearing regalia not on this list, please submit your petition online via the Commencement Regalia Request Form.

Forms must be submitted by April 15 for Spring Commencement or by November 15 for Winter Commencement.