The College awards the following honors to members of the graduating class. These senior honors are intended for students with four years of residence at Gettysburg College; grade point average computations are based on four years' performance.
- Valedictorian - to the senior with the highest accumulative average.
- Salutatorian - to the senior with the second highest accumulative average.
- Summa Cum Laude - to those seniors who have an accumulative average of 3.90 or higher.
- Magna Cum Laude - to those seniors who have an accumulative average of 3.70 through 3.89.
- Cum Laude - to those seniors who have an accumulative average of 3.50 through 3.69.
The Academic Standing Committee may grant the above honors to students with transfer credit if they have satisfied the conditions of the honor during at least two years in residence at Gettysburg College and have presented excellent transfer grades. To arrive at a decision, the Committee will factor in all grades earned at other institutions and during off-campus study programs.
In addition to the above, departments may award Departmental Honors for graduating seniors based upon their academic performance in a major field of study. Departmental Honors are awarded to transfer students on the same terms as to other students, as computation for this award is not necessarily based on four years in residence at Gettysburg College.
Participation in the May Commencement exercises shall be limited to those students who have completed all graduation requirements by that Commencement ceremony.