Stanford
Student Services

Undergraduate Honors

A major department or program can recommend you are honored for exceptional undergraduate achievement with the following honors designations: 

Distinction

In recognition of high scholastic attainment, the university awards the Bachelor’s Degree with Distinction. This honor is awarded to the top 15% of the graduating class based on cumulative grade point averages calculated at the end of Winter Quarter. Distinction is noted on both the transcript and diploma.

Departmental Honors Programs

Note: You must declare departmental honors and have your request approved no later than the application to graduate deadline for the term in which you intend to graduate.

To recognize your successful completion of special advanced work, departments may recommend you for honors in your major. Departmental honors programs demand independent creative work at an advanced level in addition to major requirements. Departmental honors programs are not available in every academic department. Departmental honors is noted on both your transcript and diploma.

You can declare departmental honors in Axess by submitting a request to the department in which you want to pursue departmental honors. The department will inform you of its decision on whether to accept you into the honors program.

You should contact the department directly to determine if you must fulfill any additional requirements to process your departmental honors declaration request.

Interdisciplinary Honors Programs

Note: You must declare for interdisciplinary honors and have your request approved no later than the application to graduate deadline for the term in which you intend to graduate.

In recognition of your successful completion of honors program requirements, the following interdisciplinary programs can recommend you for honors in their programs regardless of the department associated with your undergraduate major:

The interdisciplinary programs are designed to complement study in any departmental major.

You can declare for interdisciplinary honors in Axess. Submit a request to the department in which you want to pursue interdisciplinary honors. The department informs you of its decision on whether to accept you into its honors program.

You should contact the department directly to determine if you must fulfill any additional requirements to process your interdisciplinary honors declaration request.