What GPA do you need for the dean’s list? The short answer
At many colleges, you need a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while taking at least 12 credits. That’s the rule at Thomas Jefferson University, Southern Connecticut State University, the City College of New York and Loyola University New Orleans, for example. But every college sets its own rules. Some use a different GPA, some rank students instead, and many add conditions about credits, pass/fail classes and incomplete grades. Your college catalog has the exact requirement.
What is the dean’s list?
The dean’s list is an academic honor for a strong semester. It’s based on your term GPA, not your cumulative GPA, so you can make it in any semester even if your overall GPA is lower. Many colleges check eligibility after each fall and spring term.
Dean’s list GPA requirements at real colleges
| College | GPA needed | Credits | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University | 3.5 term GPA | At least 12 taken and 9 graded | Grade changes after week four don’t count |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 3.5 semester GPA | At least 12 | Audit, pass/fail and incomplete courses are excluded |
| University of Arizona | 3.500–3.999 | 12+ (full time) or 6–11 (half time) | A 4.0 earns Dean’s List with Distinction |
| City College of New York | 3.5 semester GPA | At least 12 | No incomplete grades |
| Loyola University New Orleans | 3.5 | 12 quality hours | No I, X or blank grades |
| Montclair State University | Top 10% of your college | At least 12 GPA credits | No incomplete grades |
So 3.5 is the most common cutoff, but not the only one. Montclair State doesn’t use a fixed GPA at all: you need to be in the top 10% of your college that semester.
Dean’s list vs president’s list vs Latin honors
| Honor | Based on | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Dean’s list | One semester’s GPA | Often 3.5 or higher |
| President’s list | One semester’s GPA | Sometimes a perfect 4.0 (for example, Southern Connecticut State) |
| Latin honors (cum laude, magna, summa) | Your cumulative GPA at graduation | Varies widely. UConn’s minimums are 3.0, 3.4 and 3.7, plus a class-rank percentile |
Some colleges set Latin honors cutoffs each year. UConn’s published minimums are just a floor: in May 2025, one of its colleges needed a 3.78 for cum laude. Your cumulative GPA (see what is CGPA?) is what counts for Latin honors, while the dean’s list looks only at one term.
Rules that catch students out
- Pass/fail classes usually don’t count. At Arizona and Southern Connecticut State, they’re left out of the GPA, and Arizona doesn’t count them toward the full-time credit minimum either. Taking a class pass/fail can leave you short of the credits you need.
- Incompletes can disqualify you or delay the decision. City College and Montclair State require no incomplete grades. Arizona doesn’t review you until the grade is resolved.
- Part-time students have different rules. Arizona has a half-time category for 6–11 credits. Southern Connecticut State and City College combine two terms for part-time students. Montclair State requires at least six credits in each of two consecutive semesters.
- Transfer grades may not count. Arizona, for example, doesn’t factor transfer coursework into the dean’s list GPA.
How to work out the grades you need
Your term GPA is your quality points divided by your graded credits. To reach 3.5, you need 3.5 × your credits in quality points.
Example: you’re taking 15 graded credits, so you need 3.5 × 15 = 52.5 quality points. You expect:
| Class | Credits | Expected grade | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 4 | A (4.0) | 16.0 |
| English | 3 | A− (3.7) | 11.1 |
| History | 3 | B+ (3.3) | 9.9 |
| Statistics | 3 | A (4.0) | 12.0 |
You need 52.5 − 49.0 = 3.5 more points from 2 credits, which is 1.75 grade points per credit. A C− (1.7) falls just short. A C (2.0) gets you there: (49.0 + 4.0) ÷ 15 = 3.53. To test your own plan, enter your classes in the GPA calculator, or work backward from your finals with the final grade calculator.
Is the dean’s list worth it?
It’s a recognized honor that shows a strong semester, and students often list it under honors on a resume or in applications, with the terms they earned it. It doesn’t replace your cumulative GPA, which is what most applications ask for. If you’re working on your overall number, see how to raise your GPA and what is a good GPA?.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA enough for the dean’s list?
At many colleges, yes, if it’s your semester GPA and you meet the credit minimum (often 12). Some colleges use a different cutoff or rank students, so check your catalog.
Does the dean’s list use my cumulative GPA?
Usually not. It’s based on one semester’s GPA. Your cumulative GPA matters for Latin honors at graduation.
Can part-time students make the dean’s list?
At many colleges, yes, under separate rules. Arizona has a half-time category for 6–11 credits, and Southern Connecticut State and City College combine two terms of part-time work.
Do pass/fail classes count toward the dean’s list?
Usually not. At colleges like Arizona and Southern Connecticut State, pass/fail classes are left out of the GPA, and Arizona doesn’t count them toward the credit minimum.
What’s the difference between the dean’s list and the president’s list?
Both are semester honors. The president’s list often has a higher bar. At Southern Connecticut State, the dean’s list needs a 3.5 and the president’s list needs a 4.0.
Sources
- Thomas Jefferson University: Dean’s List (3.5 term GPA; 12 credits taken, 9 graded; checked 11 November 2026).
- Southern Connecticut State University: Dean’s List and President’s List (3.5 and 4.0; 12 credits; exclusions; part-time rules; checked 11 November 2026).
- University of Arizona Registrar: Dean’s List (3.500–3.999, with Distinction at 4.0; full and half time; exclusions; checked 11 November 2026).
- City College of New York: Dean’s List (3.5; 12 credits; no incompletes; part-time rules; checked 11 November 2026).
- Loyola University New Orleans: Dean’s List (3.5 GPA, 12 quality hours; checked 10 November 2026).
- Montclair State University: Dean’s List policy (top 10% of college; 12 GPA credits; part-time rules; checked 11 November 2026).
- University of Connecticut Registrar: Latin honors (minimum 3.0, 3.4 and 3.7 plus class rank; yearly cutoffs; checked 11 November 2026).