The College recognizes academic achievement through three types of honors: Dean’s List, Major-Field Honors, and Latin Honors.

Dean's List

Based on semester grade point averages, approximately the top 25 percent of students are named to the Dean’s List at the conclusion of each fall and winter semester. To be eligible, students must have completed all coursework by the end of the semester with no grade deferrals and received letter grades in at least three Bates courses. In 2025-26, a student must earn a semester GPA of 3.93 or higher to be named to the Dean’s List.

Latin Honors

By the start of each academic year, the Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems computes the minimum cumulative grade point average necessary to rank students in the top 2 percent (summa cum laude), 8 percent (magna cum laude), and 15 percent (cum laude) of the combined last three graduating classes. Students who graduate in the 2024-25 academic year with GPAs of 3.99 or higher earn the distinction of summa cum laude; GPAs of 3.96 to 3.98 earn magna cum laude; and GPAs of 3.93 to 3.95 earn cum laude.