Honors & Prizes
Deans' Honors Lists
According to UC Davis Division Regulation 551, the quarterly Dean's Honors List includes names of students who have completed, for a letter grade, a minimum of 12 units in a specific quarter with a grade point average equal to or higher than the minimum grade point average attained by the upper 16 percent of those registered in the same class level and college during that quarter. Honors lists will be posted quarterly on deans' office websites or made available by other means and a notation of these honors will be placed on each student's permanent record by the Office of the University Registrar.
College of
Graduation Honors
Honors at graduation are awarded to students who have a grade point average in the top percent of their college as shown in the table below. The College of Letters & Science requires that additional criteria be met for high and highest honors.
| Total Quarter Units at UC | Highest Honors | High Honors | Honors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45-89 | 2% | next 2% | next 4% | 8% |
| 90-134 | 3% | next 3% | next 6% | 12% |
| 135+ | 4% | next 4% | next 8% | 16% |
Grade point averages from the winter quarter prior to graduation are used to determine the averages that will earn an honors designation. Following are the averages for winter quarter 2023 (202301). These averages will be used through winter quarter 2024.
Grade Point Average by College
| Percent Determining Cut-Off Point | Agricultural & Environmental Sciences | Biological Sciences | Engineering | Letters & Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | 3.969 | 3.985 | 3.986 | 3.991 |
| 3% | 3.955 | 3.970 | 3.967 | 3.982 |
| 4% | 3.939 | 3.957 | 3.948 | 3.969 |
| 6% | 3.906 | 3.937 | 3.913 | 3.947 |
| 8% | 3.878 | 3.912 | 3.884 | 3.925 |
| 12% | 3.822 | 3.859 | 3.817 | 3.882 |
| 16% | 3.758 | 3.802 | 3.766 | 3.846 |
An honors notation is made on a student's diplomas and on their permanent records in the Office of the University Registrar.
Prizes & Awards
The University Medal is the highest campus honor awarded to a graduating senior in recognition of superior scholarship and achievement. A College or School Medal is also given to the outstanding graduating student in each of the colleges and professional schools.
Departmental citations, special awards, and prizes are also awarded to students for superior achievement and scholarship.
Prizes & Awards for, College of
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research & Mentoring Undergraduate Research
These prestigious awards recognize up to two graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves through their excellence in undergraduate research; and faculty, postdocs, or graduate students who have excelled in mentoring undergraduate researchers. For complete information, see Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.
University Honors Program
The University Honors Program (UHP), 530-752-3225, is a four-year, interdisciplinary, campus-wide program for high potential and socially conscious undergraduate students interested in enhancing their educational experience through special courses, close faculty contact, dynamic peer interaction, and positive social change.