Academic Honors

This page briefly summarizes the criteria for College honors. Details are available on the Honors page of Allegheny’s Academic Regulations site.

Alden Scholars

  • Must complete at least 30 credits in an academic year (September to September)
  • Must achieve a GPA for the academic year of at least 3.20
  • For students who spend one semester abroad, at least 16 credits must be taken at Allegheny that academic year

Distinguished Alden Scholars

  • Must complete at least 30 credits in an academic year (September to September)
  • Must achieve a GPA for the academic year of at least 3.80
  • For students who spend one semester abroad, at least 16 credits must be taken at Allegheny that academic year

Doane Scholars

Thirty students chosen from the top scholars in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes are honored each year as Doane Distinguished Scholars. The 30 annual awards are made possible through the generosity of the late Mrs. Sandra Doane Turk.

Graduation Honors

  • Must take at least 64 credits  at Allegheny on the letter-grade basis.
  • Cum laude: cumulative GPA at least 3.50
  • Magna cum laude: cumulative GPA at least 3.70
  • Summa cum laude: cumulative GPA at least 3.90
  • The sanction of Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion received for Honor Code violations disqualifies a student from consideration for Latin Honors

Phi Beta Kappa Phi Beta Kappa, a national honorary scholastic fraternity founded in 1776, has had a chapter at Allegheny since 1902. Members are elected from the senior class on the basis of scholarship and moral character. The breadth of a student’s program, as shown by high achievement in a variety of courses taken outside the major field of study, is a factor in election.  Inquiries about the selection process may be directed to the Office of the Provost.