Last Revision: January 24, 2025
University Honors Designation
Effective, June 1, 2019, American Public University and American Military University will no longer award the University Honors designation for any academic degree awarded. Any student who was awarded the university honors designation before June 1st will retain that designation on their conferred degree. Students pursuing Bachelor's degrees will be able to earn Latin Honors if they meet the criteria. Please refer to the Latin Honors section in the Student Handbook for more information.
The date that a student was admitted into their current program is what determines the requirements for university honors designation upon graduation. If a student was disenrolled and readmitted, their program will follow the honors requirements that were current at their date of readmission.
Associate and Bachelor's degrees
- Admitted on or after April 1, 2003, and conferred by June 1, 2019: cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
- Admitted before April 1, 2003, and conferred by June 1, 2019: cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
Master's degrees
- Admitted before Oct 1, 1996, with Degree Path including a final Capstone Course: Grade of A on final course and GPA of 4.0 results in graduating "with honors" noted on the final transcript.
- Admitted after Fall 1996 with a degree conferred before Nov 1, 2014, which includes a Final Comprehensive Exam: Grade of PD on Comprehensive Exam and cumulative GPA 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma.
- Admitted between Oct. 1, 1996, and April 30, 2011, with a degree conferred before Nov 1, 2014, which includes a Capstone/Practicum: Completing the Capstone Option or the Thesis/Practicum as a program requirement or in lieu of the Final Comprehensive Exam with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma. If a student needs to retake the final course requirement after an initial failure, they will not be eligible for honors designation, regardless of final grade and GPA.
- Admitted on or after May 1, 2011, with a degree conferred before Nov 1, 2014, which includes a Capstone/Practicum: Completing the Capstone Option or the Thesis/Practicum as a program requirement or in lieu of the Final Comprehensive Exam with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater with an A or above in the Capstone/Thesis/Practicum course results in graduating "with honors" noted on final transcript and diploma. If a student needs to retake the final course requirement after an initial failure, they will not be eligible for honors designation, regardless of final grade and GPA.
- Admitted on or after Oct. 1, 1996, with degree conferred after Nov 1, 201,4 and by June 1, 2019: Completing any master's degree option with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher results in graduating "with honors" noted on the final transcript and diploma.
- Students in any Master of Education program that conferred June 1, 2019, or earlier with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater results in graduating "with honors" noted on the final transcript and diploma.
- Please refer to the Course Grades and APUS Transcripts section of the Student Handbook for detailed information.
Questions regarding GPA calculation or other honors factors may be directed to [email protected].