Honors & Awards
Undergraduate Honors and Awards
At UC Santa Cruz, honors and awards recognize academic excellence and provide opportunities for students who want to challenge themselves and grow. Many students find that joining honors programs or societies creates supportive communities that enrich their academic journey, while others are motivated by the chance to be formally recognized for their achievements. From college and university honors to competitive scholarships and research awards, these opportunities highlight the dedication, creativity, and leadership of UC Santa Cruz undergraduates.
Honors Opportunities
UC Santa Cruz awards several honors for outstanding academic achievement.
Dean’s Honors
Students will be eligible for quarterly Dean’s Honors if they have earned a minimum of 15 units that quarter, of which at least 10 are graded, with a term grade point average (GPA) equal or higher than that required for University Honors at graduation in their group for the current academic year. The notation “Dean’s Honors” will appear on the transcript.
Honors in the Major
At graduation, the department sponsoring a student’s major program may confer Honors or Highest Honors in the major. This notation appears on the transcript as well as on the diploma. In general, no more than 15 percent of the graduation class in a major will be awarded Honors at graduation.
University Honors
To be considered for University Honors at graduation, students must have completed 70 or more units at the University of California and have attained in their group* a UC GPA that places them in the rankings as follows: Summa Cum Laude, top 2 percent; Magna Cum Laude, next 3 percent; Cum Laude, next 10 percent. Each year and for each group, the registrar will calculate the GPA thresholds required for these levels of University Honors, based on the GPAs of recent graduates. The notation University Honors will appear on the diploma and transcript.
Grade Point Average Criteria for Honors
| Quarters | School | Summa cum laude | Magna cum laude | Cum laude | Dean’s Honors |
| Fall 2024 – Summer 2025 | School of Engineering | 3.96 | 3.92 | 3.82 | 3.82 |
| Fall 2024 – Summer 2025 | Divisions | 3.98 | 3.95 | 3.85 | 3.85 |
Undergraduate Awards
The Division of Undergraduate Education maintains a listing of the following awards for UCSC undergraduate students. Campus application deadlines are listed for the scholarships.
Deans’, Chancellor’s, and Steck Awards
Dean’s awards are granted to 50 undergraduate research projects, 10 from each of the five academic divisions. Submissions are typically an outstanding senior thesis, or other outstanding research project, completed during the current academic year. Each winning Deans’ award project will receive a $100 award. The top 3 Deans’ Award projects from each division will also receive a Chancellor’s award of $500. The most outstanding Chancellor’s Award research project will receive the Steck Award of $2,000. The names of all winners are displayed on the Deans’ and Chancellor’s Award website and are also usually announced at college commencement ceremonies.
CAMPUS APPLICATION DEADLINE: Annually in early April
AWARD AMOUNTS: $100 Dean’s, $500 Chancellor’s, $2,000 Steck Award
Scholarships
The Office of Campus Advising Coordination supports some of the scholarships available for UC Santa Cruz undergraduate students. Campus application deadlines are listed below for the following opportunities. For more information contact the Undergraduate Honors Coordinator ur_hnrs@ucsc.edu.
Strauss Scholarship
The Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation allows students to pursue a public service project during their junior or senior year. The scholarship provides $15,000 for expenses of the public service project and for some tuition, fees, books, room and board. The Foundation will award scholarships to as many as 15 full-time students who have:
- Demonstrated an interest in public service
- Outstanding leadership potential
- Developed and can demonstrate effective communication skills
- The desire to “make a difference” in local, regional, national or international communities
- One or two years remaining until graduation
- A GPA in the upper 1/3 of their class
- Submitted an innovative, original, public service proposal
Award Amount: $15,000
Contact: Don Bard | ur_hnrs@ucsc.edu.
Truman Scholarship
The Truman Scholarship requires an endorsement from the UC Santa Cruz Faculty Advisor. It is recommended that applicants review the requirements and meet with the institutional advisor, Don Bard, before applying (see contact info below).
- U.S. Citizen
- University junior, 3.5 GPA
- Interest in public service, leadership, and public policy.
Award: $30,000 ($15,000 each for first and last years of grad school).
Contact: Don Bard | ur_hnrs@ucsc.edu
Koret Scholarship
The Koret Research Scholarship is $2,000 award, disbursed through the Financial Aid Scholarship Office, funded by a generous grant from the Koret Foundation. Each year up to 50 students doing a variety of research projects and experiences are awarded.
Application opens late Sept (beginning of fall quarter)
Application closes late October
The Koret Slam is a part of the Koret Scholarship. The Slam is an event where Koret scholars present their work to the public. Koret scholars are also recognized by name in the UC Santa Cruz commencement program at the end of each spring quarter.We are commitment to undergraduate education and student success. Undergraduate participation in research plays a significant role in academic achievement and retention. The Koret Scholarship is just one example of the outstanding research opportunities available to UCSC students. For more information about getting involved in undergraduate research please visit the Undergraduate Research opportunities website.