A student who fulfills the degree requirements and is in the top five percent of their class graduates summa cum laude. A student in the top fifteen percent of their class (but not in the top five percent) graduates magna cum laude. A student in the top twenty-five percent of their class (but not in the top fifteen percent) graduates cum laude.

In addition, a student deemed worthy of special recognition in the department or program of an academic major graduates “with honors” in the major. (This is generally separate from a “with distinction” evaluation on a comprehensive examination, although departments and programs establish their own criteria for honors designations within their majors.)

The College Standards Committee declares a class valedictorian and salutatorian. These students must be members of the Order of the Gown and must have pursued a full college course of study (128 credit hours) at Sewanee. Exceptions may be made for students spending no more than two semesters at an officially sanctioned off-campus program.