Think of ASU honors cords as a visual badge of honor you get to wear at graduation. These aren't just decorative ropes to match your gown; they are a proud, tangible symbol of all the late nights, hard work, and academic dedication it took to earn a top Grade Point Average (GPA) at Arizona State University.
What ASU Honors Cords Mean for Your Graduation
Finishing your degree at Arizona State University is a huge accomplishment in itself. But for those who really pushed themselves academically, the university has a special way of tipping its hat to you. That's where ASU honors cords come in.
These cords are more than just an accessory. They send a clear message to everyone at commencement—your family, your professors, and your fellow graduates—that you are graduating among the top of your class.
This whole tradition is tied to the centuries-old system of Latin honors, which colleges use to celebrate exceptional students. Just like a gold medal at a sporting event, the specific color of your ASU cord tells a story about your level of academic achievement.
The Prestige Behind the Colors
At ASU, the color of your cord isn't random. It directly corresponds to one of three prestigious Latin honors, each tied to a specific cumulative GPA. This tiered system ensures that anyone wearing an honors cord has met a very high academic bar.
The three levels of Latin honors at Arizona State are:
- Summa Cum Laude: This is the highest honor. It's for graduates with a GPA between 3.80 and 4.00.
- Magna Cum Laude: This means "with great honor" and is awarded to those with a GPA from 3.60 to 3.79.
- Cum Laude: Meaning "with honor," this is for students who earned a GPA between 3.40 and 3.59.
To make it even simpler, here’s a quick breakdown of how ASU assigns these honors.
ASU Honors Cords Quick Guide
This table gives you a fast and easy reference for the GPA you need to earn each level of Latin honors and the cord color you'll receive.
| Latin Honor Designation | Required Cumulative GPA | ASU Cord Color |
|---|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.80 – 4.00 | Gold |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.60 – 3.79 | Gold |
| Cum Laude | 3.40 – 3.59 | Gold |
As you can see, ASU uses a gold cord to signify all three levels of university honors, which are awarded based on your final GPA.
This structured recognition creates a clear and respected way to celebrate academic excellence. Earning any of these honors is a major achievement that sets you apart and serves as a permanent testament to your commitment as a Sun Devil.
Now, while these specific gold cords represent GPA-based honors directly from the university, you might see graduates with other colors, too. Many students also earn cords from specific honor societies, clubs, or academic departments. To learn about what all the different colors can mean, check out our guide on graduation honor cord color meanings. It’ll help you tell the difference between university honors and other awards you might be eligible to wear.
Breaking Down the Three Tiers of ASU Academic Honors
Earning academic honors at Arizona State University is a huge accomplishment, setting graduates apart for their incredible hard work. Each of the three tiers of Latin honors tells a story of dedication and academic excellence.
So, let's walk through what each level of honor means and the specific cord color that represents it.
As you can see, Summa Cum Laude sits at the very top, followed by Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude.
Summa Cum Laude: The Gold Standard
Summa Cum Laude, which means "with highest honor," is the most prestigious academic award an ASU graduate can receive. To earn this, a student must achieve a cumulative GPA between 3.80 and 4.00.
Think of it as the academic equivalent of an Olympic gold medal. It’s not just about a single great semester; it’s about maintaining near-perfect performance across your entire university career. The brilliant gold ASU honors cords these graduates wear are a perfect symbol of this top-tier achievement.
Magna Cum Laude: A Mark of Great Honor
Next in line is Magna Cum Laude, or "with great honor." This distinction is awarded to students who earn a cumulative GPA between 3.60 and 3.79. It’s a powerful statement about a graduate’s consistent hard work and ability to handle a rigorous academic workload.
If Summa is the gold medal, Magna is the silver—an incredible accomplishment that firmly places a graduate among the best in their class.
Cum Laude: A Celebration of Distinction
The first tier of Latin honors at ASU is Cum Laude, meaning "with honor." This recognizes students who have maintained a cumulative GPA between 3.40 and 3.59. While it's the foundational level of academic honors, earning it is no small feat.
Graduating Cum Laude is like finishing a marathon with an impressive time. It takes serious discipline, focus, and a strong academic performance that sets these graduates apart from their peers.
This system of colored cords isn't unique to ASU. It's part of a tradition you'll see at universities across the country. For instance, Arkansas State University uses a nearly identical system with white cords for Cum Laude, red for Magna Cum Laude, and gold for Summa Cum Laude. This widespread practice creates a unified way to celebrate academic success. You can see how other schools do it by checking out the honors information from Arkansas State University.
How to Claim Your Official ASU Honors Cords
You’ve spent years hitting the books, acing those exams, and officially earning the GPA for academic honors. Now comes the fun part—getting the official ASU honors cords that show off all your hard work. The process is pretty simple, but knowing the steps beforehand will make sure you don’t miss a thing.
First things first, eligibility for these cords is tied directly to your cumulative GPA from every class you've taken at Arizona State University. This isn't just about one great semester; it's a reflection of your entire academic career as a Sun Devil. Your final GPA, calculated after your very last semester, is what locks in your honors status for graduation.
Your Guide to Getting Your Cords
Once you’ve confirmed you meet the GPA requirements, the next step is to actually pick up your cords. The university usually hands them out during commencement week, which makes it an easy stop while you’re handling other graduation prep.
Keep in mind that specific dates and pickup locations can change from year to year. The best thing you can do is keep a close eye on your official ASU student email and the ASU graduation website. This is where the university will post the official schedule for 2026 and future ceremonies.
To make sure pickup is a breeze, just follow these general steps:
- Watch Your ASU Email: This is your number one source for official news. The University Registrar's Office will email you all the details on when and where to get your ASU honors cords.
- Head to the Pickup Spot: Distribution is usually handled at a central spot on campus, like the University Registrar Services office. Sometimes, your specific college's advising office might handle it. Your email will tell you exactly where to go.
- Bring Your Student ID: You will definitely need your Sun Card or another photo ID to prove you are who you say you are before they’ll hand over your well-earned regalia.
While ASU provides the cords for GPA-based Latin honors, a lot of students also earn cords from specific clubs and honor societies. If you're curious about how those work with your university cords, take a look at our article on whether the National Honor Society provides a cord. Staying on top of these details is the key to proudly wearing every symbol of your success on graduation day.
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Exploring Honors Beyond Your GPA
Sure, your GPA is a huge part of your academic story at Arizona State University, but it’s far from the only part. ASU gets that, and they have a whole system of recognition that goes way beyond the standard ASU honors cords for your grades. Your graduation regalia can actually tell the full story of your time as a Sun Devil, showcasing everything from intensive research projects to your leadership roles.
Think of your GPA-based honors cord as the main theme of your graduation look. Other awards, like special medallions and stoles, add the details that highlight your unique accomplishments. When you put them all together, you get a complete picture that truly represents your entire journey.
Barrett The Honors College Regalia
Graduating from Barrett, The Honors College is a massive accomplishment, and it comes with its own special regalia to prove it. Barrett grads are recognized with more than just cords; they get unique items that really make them stand out. This usually includes a special medallion and a custom-designed stole, showing you’ve completed a tough, thesis-based honors curriculum.
These items are meant to be worn right alongside the university-wide honors cords. For instance, a high-achieving student might wear:
- The university's gold cord for graduating Summa Cum Laude.
- The Barrett medallion, worn proudly around the neck.
- A custom Barrett honors stole.
Seeing all those pieces together tells you that graduate didn't just earn a top GPA—they also conquered one of the most respected honors programs in the country. Barrett distributes these items directly to their graduates, and they are a central part of the college's convocation ceremony.
Dean's Medals and Departmental Awards
Another layer of recognition to look for is the Dean's Medal. This is a big deal. The medal is awarded to the most exceptional graduates from each of ASU's individual colleges, celebrating students who have truly gone above and beyond their coursework. The recipients are usually campus leaders, groundbreaking researchers, or students who have made a real difference in their academic departments.
What’s really cool is how ASU's recognition has evolved. It's not just a simple cord system anymore. It now includes top-tier honors from Barrett, prestigious Dean's Medals, and even awards for students who fast-track their degrees and finish in under four years.
Take an outstanding grad like Cameron Brooks, for example. He made the Dean's List for four straight years while finishing his honors degree in astrobiology and biogeosciences. This kind of multi-layered system is what allows the university to acknowledge all kinds of excellence, from pure grades to specialized research and leadership. You can see more stories of how ASU honors its top students with Dean's Medals and other distinctions.
When it comes down to it, your graduation attire is a canvas for your success. Every single cord, stole, and medallion you earn adds another brushstroke to the complete picture of your hard work and dedication at ASU.
Personalizing Your Graduation Look with Custom Stoles
Your official ASU honors cord is a huge accomplishment, but it only tells part of your story. Think of it this way: the university cord is the headline, but a custom stole from Stoles.com is where you get to share all the rich details of your journey.
While that gold cord speaks volumes about your GPA, a custom stole can celebrate everything else that made your college experience yours. It's your chance to represent your community, your heritage, and the passions that shaped you at ASU, creating a graduation look that’s completely, uniquely you.
Tell Your Full Story with a Custom Stole
A stole can represent almost any part of your identity and achievements. They add a beautiful, personal layer to your official regalia without overshadowing it, resulting in a look that’s both meaningful and visually striking.
Here are a few popular options people choose:
- Greek Stoles: Did you find your home away from home in a fraternity or sorority? A Greek letter stole is the perfect way to honor that brotherhood or sisterhood.
- Flag Stoles: Maybe you're an international student, or you want to celebrate your family’s roots. A Flag Stole is a powerful way to display pride in your heritage.
- Honor Stoles: If you were part of a specific academic club or a non-university honor society, a custom Honor Stole gives that accomplishment the recognition it deserves on the big day.
Your graduation look is a visual representation of your entire journey. Pairing your official ASU honors cords with a personalized stole ensures that every significant part of your identity—from academic honors to cultural pride—is celebrated on your big day.
These custom pieces turn your graduation gown from a simple uniform into a personal statement. For more inspiration on putting it all together, check out our guide on creating a fully customized cap and gown experience. While personalizing your regalia is a popular choice, other ways to celebrate this milestone include things like a Senior 2020 Yard Sign.
To help you decide, the table below breaks down how different stoles and cords can help personalize your graduation day look.
Personalize Your Graduation Regalia with Stoles.com
| Stole/Cord Type | What It Represents | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Flag Stoles | Your country of origin or cultural heritage | International students or graduates wanting to honor their roots |
| Greek Stoles | Membership in a fraternity or sorority | Members of Greek life organizations showcasing their chapter pride |
| Honor Stoles | Achievement in a specific club or society | Graduates from departmental honor societies or academic clubs |
By thoughtfully combining these pieces, your graduation attire becomes much more than just a requirement. It becomes a vibrant celebration of who you are and everything you’ve achieved to get to this moment.
How to Properly Wear and Preserve Your Cords
You’ve earned those cords, and on graduation day, you’ll want to wear them with pride. It's a simple process, but getting it right ensures you look sharp and honors the achievement they represent.
The key is symmetry. Find the center knot of the cord and place it behind your neck. From there, let the two tassels hang evenly down the front of your gown. They should fall straight and be the same length, perfectly framing your stole and the rest of your regalia.
From Ceremony Accessory to Lifelong Keepsake
Long after the celebrations are over, your honors cords serve as a tangible reminder of all your hard work and academic success. With a little bit of care, you can turn them from a piece of graduation day attire into a cherished memento for years to come.
Your graduation cords are a physical reminder of your commitment and achievement. Preserving them well means you can keep that story alive as a source of pride and motivation long after commencement ends.
Here are a few easy tips to keep your cords looking just as good as they did on graduation day:
- Store Them Untangled: As soon as you can after the ceremony, carefully coil the cords and place them in a small box or a dedicated drawer. This simple step keeps the fibers from snagging and prevents the tassels from getting frayed.
- Create a Shadow Box: A shadow box is one of the best ways to display your ASU honors cords. You can arrange them with your diploma, graduation tassel, and maybe a photo to create a professional display you'll be proud to hang on your wall.
- Keep Them Dry: Find a cool, dry spot away from any direct sunlight. Humidity can lead to mildew, while sunlight will eventually cause those brilliant colors to fade.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure your honors cords remain a pristine symbol of your incredible accomplishment as a Sun Devil.
Frequently Asked Questions About ASU Honors Cords
As commencement gets closer, the questions start piling up. We get it. To make things a little easier, we've pulled together answers to the most common questions we hear about ASU honors cords so you can prepare for the big day with confidence.
Can I Wear My Honor Society Cord with My ASU Cord?
Absolutely! Your graduation day is a celebration of all your hard work. You should proudly wear every cord, stole, and medallion you've earned.
Each one tells a part of your story, whether it's for your GPA from ASU, membership in an honor society, your involvement in a student club, or your cultural heritage. Layering them is not only allowed, it's encouraged—they combine to represent the full scope of your success.
What Happens If My Final Grades Change My Honors Level?
This is a very common concern, so you're not alone in wondering. Your eligibility to pick up an honors cord before the ceremony is usually based on the GPA you had at the end of the previous semester.
However, your final, official honors designation—the one that goes on your diploma and transcript—is calculated after your last semester's grades are in.
- If your final GPA bumps you into a higher tier (like from Cum Laude to Magna Cum Laude), your transcript will officially reflect that higher honor.
- On the other hand, if your GPA happens to dip below the 3.40 threshold, you won't officially graduate with university honors, even if you wore a cord during the ceremony.
Do Graduate Students Get the Same Honors Cords?
No, graduate students have a different system for recognition. The Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude) and the gold ASU honors cords that go with them are exclusively for undergraduate students.
Graduate programs at ASU have their own unique ways of celebrating outstanding academic achievement, which are typically handled by the individual colleges or schools.
It's a common point of confusion, but the university-wide gold cords are a specific tradition reserved for celebrating the academic excellence of the undergraduate class.
Where Can I Get a Replacement or Additional Cord?
If you've lost or need a replacement for the official, university-issued honors cord, your first stop should be the ASU University Registrar's Office.
For any other cords—like those for honor societies, fraternities, sororities, or student clubs—you'll need to reach out to a specialized provider. The same goes if you're looking to design a personalized stole to celebrate a unique part of your journey.
At Stoles.com, we offer a huge variety of high-quality honor cords and custom stoles to help you celebrate every single one of your achievements. Explore our full collection at https://www.stoles.com to find the perfect additions to your graduation regalia.