Scholastic Recognition

The university recognizes those students who are doing exceptionally well in several ways, including the following.

1. Dean’s List. Each semester the university issues a dean’s list made up of those students who have carried at least 12 hours of graded or S-F courses with a 3.50 grade-point average or above for the semester. Courses taken on a P-NP basis do not count as part of the 12-hour requirement. No dean’s list is issued for summer school.

2. Annual Scholars and Leaders Ceremony. In the spring the university sponsors a ceremony at which exemplary student leaders and high scholarship students in all classes are recognized.

3. Graduation with Distinction. Undergraduates who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher at the beginning of their final term are graduated “with distinction” provided they have completed 60 semester credits of coursework at Iowa State University at the time they graduate. Of these 60 credits, a minimum of 50 graded credits are required.

This recognition appears on the student’s permanent record and diploma, and in the commencement program. Recognition for students graduating in veterinary medicine is based only on the grades earned while enrolled in that college.

Candidates for the bachelor of liberal studies degree may be graduated with distinction providing that they (a) have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher for all ISU credits; (b) have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher for all other credits taken at the other Iowa Regent universities; and (c) have completed 45 semester credits of coursework at the three Iowa Regent universities at the time of graduation.

4. Honors Program. Students who are full members of the University Honors Program have a cumulative grade point average of 3.35 or higher at the beginning of their final term. In addition, they will have completed an approved honors program of study and an honors project prior to graduation. This recognition appears on the student’s permanent record and diploma, and in the commencement program.

Frequently asked questions about Dean's List and Honoraries