Awards and Honors
JD Honors Policy*
Graduating seniors who are ranked in the top 25 percent of their division during their last semester will graduate with honors.
Conferring of Degrees—Loyola University Chicago School of Law JD Honors Policy
The top 25% in each division will graduate cum laude.
The top 10% in each division will graduate magna cum laude.
Up to the top two students in each annual graduating class without regard to division (subject to the Dean's approval) may graduate summa cum laude. (This does not mean that two from full-time and two from part-time are eligible to receive summa cum laude status.)
Spring semester class ranks will be used to determine final honors status for all spring graduates. The percentile designations will then be applied to all graduates.
Summer graduates' honors status will be determined by their percentile rank after their final spring semester.
Fall semester class ranks will be used to determine final honors status for all fall graduates. The percentile designations will then be applied to all graduates.
If a percentage for honors designation results in a fraction, eligibility for honors status will be determined by rounding up the number of those eligible, if the decimal involved is .5 or greater. For instance, in a class of 50 graduates, the top 25% would include 12.5 graduates. For purposes of honors designation, 13 graduates will qualify for honors status. If there are 49 students, the top 12.25 students are within the top 25% and honors status will be awarded to only 12 students.
Dean's List*
Juris Doctor students who attain a semester grade point average of 3.40 or above are placed on the Dean’s List at the end of each fall and spring semester. A student must be enrolled in 6 hours of graded credit in order to be placed on the dean’s list. Dean’s List letters are mailed 4–6 weeks after grades are due for the semester.
CALI Awards
CALI Awards are chosen by the faculty member and are given to the highest performing student in a course each semester. Visit the CALI website for more information.
Class Rank Descriptions
JD students are ranked by program and class at the end of each fall and spring semester. Class ranks are based upon cumulative grade point average and are usually available 2-3 weeks after grades are due for the semester. Students will be notified by the Law Registrar Office via email.
A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of graded credit in order to be included in the rank pool. First-year students and students who transfer to Loyola must wait until they have completed one year of coursework before they are included in the ranks. Visiting students are not ranked. Students who are permitted to visit another university during their final year will be ranked with their class. Students that do not fulfill their advocacy requirement will not receive a class rank until the requirement is fulfilled.
Alumni who wish to request their final class rank must send a request in writing to the Law Registrar’s Office and include: your name, program, and final GPA.
JD Honors Policy*
Graduating seniors who are ranked in the top 25 percent of their division during their last semester will graduate with honors.
Conferring of Degrees—Loyola University Chicago School of Law JD Honors Policy
The top 25% in each division will graduate cum laude.
The top 10% in each division will graduate magna cum laude.
Up to the top two students in each annual graduating class without regard to division (subject to the Dean's approval) may graduate summa cum laude. (This does not mean that two from full-time and two from part-time are eligible to receive summa cum laude status.)
Spring semester class ranks will be used to determine final honors status for all spring graduates. The percentile designations will then be applied to all graduates.
Summer graduates' honors status will be determined by their percentile rank after their final spring semester.
Fall semester class ranks will be used to determine final honors status for all fall graduates. The percentile designations will then be applied to all graduates.
If a percentage for honors designation results in a fraction, eligibility for honors status will be determined by rounding up the number of those eligible, if the decimal involved is .5 or greater. For instance, in a class of 50 graduates, the top 25% would include 12.5 graduates. For purposes of honors designation, 13 graduates will qualify for honors status. If there are 49 students, the top 12.25 students are within the top 25% and honors status will be awarded to only 12 students.
Dean's List*
Juris Doctor students who attain a semester grade point average of 3.40 or above are placed on the Dean’s List at the end of each fall and spring semester. A student must be enrolled in 6 hours of graded credit in order to be placed on the dean’s list. Dean’s List letters are mailed 4–6 weeks after grades are due for the semester.
CALI Awards
CALI Awards are chosen by the faculty member and are given to the highest performing student in a course each semester. Visit the CALI website for more information.
Class Rank Descriptions
JD students are ranked by program and class at the end of each fall and spring semester. Class ranks are based upon cumulative grade point average and are usually available 2-3 weeks after grades are due for the semester. Students will be notified by the Law Registrar Office via email.
A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of graded credit in order to be included in the rank pool. First-year students and students who transfer to Loyola must wait until they have completed one year of coursework before they are included in the ranks. Visiting students are not ranked. Students who are permitted to visit another university during their final year will be ranked with their class. Students that do not fulfill their advocacy requirement will not receive a class rank until the requirement is fulfilled.
Alumni who wish to request their final class rank must send a request in writing to the Law Registrar’s Office and include: your name, program, and final GPA.