The most common Dean's List requirement in the U.S. is a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while taking at least 12 letter-graded credits. Penn State and Towson both use exactly that standard for full-time students. Some schools are tougher: instead of a fixed number, they recognize only the top slice of each college, which can push the cutoff above 3.9.
Every college sets its own rule, and the registrar's Dean's List page is the place to confirm yours. Below are five real examples, then a quick way to check your own semester.
Dean's List requirements at five universities
| University | GPA needed | Credit requirement | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State | 3.50+ semester GPA | 12+ credits toward GPA (6–11.9 for part-time list) | Fixed threshold |
| Towson University | 3.50+ GPA | 12+ calculable units per term (full-time) | Fixed threshold; 4.0 earns "with Distinction" |
| UConn | See the registrar's current rule | Any grade below C disqualifies, even pass/fail | Grade-floor rule |
| UC Davis | Top 16% of class level and college that term | 12+ units for a letter grade | Percentile-based |
| Notre Dame | Minimum set by each college (3.834 to 3.945 this year) | 12 graded credit hours | College-specific cutoffs |
Penn State
Penn State's policy requires a one-semester GPA of 3.50 or above with 12 or more credits toward GPA. Part-time students qualify for a separate "Part-time Dean's List" with 6 through 11.9 credits toward GPA and the same 3.50. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory and audit courses do not count toward the GPA or the credit load.
Towson University
Towson recognizes full-time students each fall and spring who complete at least 12 calculable units with a GPA of 3.50 or higher; a 4.0 earns Dean's List with Distinction. Part-time students qualify once per academic year by completing at least 12 calculable units across the year with a 3.50 or higher. Pass, audit and satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades do not count toward the 12 units.
UConn
UConn's registrar notes an important extra rule: a grade below C makes a student ineligible for the Dean's List, and that applies even to a course taken pass/fail. One weak course can cost you the honor regardless of your overall semester GPA.
UC Davis
UC Davis names a quarterly Dean's Honors List. You need at least 12 units completed for a letter grade and a UC GPA in the top 16% of your class level and college for that term. Because the cutoff depends on how everyone else in your group did, nobody knows the exact GPA in advance.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame requires 12 graded credit hours and a semester GPA that meets a minimum set by the dean of your college. The current academic year's published cutoffs are:
| College or school | Minimum semester GPA |
|---|---|
| Science | 3.945 |
| Keough School of Global Affairs | 3.938 |
| Arts and Letters | 3.923 |
| Mendoza College of Business | 3.867 |
| Engineering | 3.867 |
| Architecture | 3.834 |
Those numbers show how much a percentile-style rule can differ from the 3.5 standard: at Notre Dame a 3.9 may not be enough.
How to check if you made the Dean's List
Dean's List uses your semester (term) GPA, not your cumulative GPA. Here is a fictional example at a school with a 3.50 / 12-credit rule.
Lena takes five courses, one of them pass/fail:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Points | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Chemistry | 4 | B+ | 3.3 | 13.2 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | A | 4.0 | 12.0 |
| Literature | 3 | A− | 3.7 | 11.1 |
| Statistics | 3 | A− | 3.7 | 11.1 |
| Ceramics (pass/fail) | 2 | P | — | — |
- Count graded credits: 4 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 13. That clears 12. (The 2 pass/fail credits do not count.)
- Add quality points: 13.2 + 12.0 + 11.1 + 11.1 = 47.4.
- Divide: 47.4 ÷ 13 = 3.65. That clears 3.50, so Lena qualifies.
Now suppose Microeconomics had also been pass/fail. Her graded credits would drop to 10, under the 12-credit minimum, and she would miss the list even with a strong GPA. That is the most common way good students miss out.
Check your own term in the Semester GPA Calculator. If you are mid-semester, the Final Grade Calculator shows what you need on each final to keep a grade that protects your Dean's List GPA.
How to give yourself the best chance
- Keep at least 12 letter-graded credits. Count them before you elect pass/fail.
- Watch every course, not just the average. At schools like UConn, one grade below C disqualifies you.
- Know whether your school uses a fixed or a percentile cutoff. If it is percentile-based, aim well above 3.5.
- Watch for Incompletes. An open I can leave you short of graded credits; see incomplete grades.
- Use evidence-based study habits like spaced practice and self-testing; see study tips for better grades.
Dean's List vs. graduation honors
Dean's List recognizes one semester. Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) are based on your cumulative GPA at graduation and follow different rules. See graduation honors GPA requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA Dean's List?
At many schools, including Penn State and Towson, a 3.50 semester GPA with enough credits qualifies. At percentile-based schools like Notre Dame the cutoff can be much higher.
Can part-time students make the Dean's List?
At some schools. Penn State has a Part-time Dean's List for 6 to 11.9 credits, and Towson recognizes part-time students once per academic year.
Do pass/fail classes count for the Dean's List?
They usually do not count toward the GPA or the graded-credit minimum. At UConn a pass/fail grade below C still blocks eligibility.
Should I put Dean's List on my resume?
Yes. List it under education with the terms, for example "Dean's List, Fall and Spring."