Case Western Reserve University promotes and offers a range of honors, awards, and fellowships, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions in diverse fields, fostering excellence and distinction within its community.
Honors
Latin commencement honors are awarded to the top 35 percent of the graduating class. These cutoffs are applied to degrees awarded in 2025 (January, May, and August).
- Top 10 percent: summa cum laude = 3.973-4.000
- Next 10 percent: magna cum laude = 3.917-3.972
- Next 15 percent: cum laude = 3.812-3.916
To be eligible for Latin commencement honors, candidates must have:
- Earned a minimum of 54 credit hours for evaluative grades (A, B, C, D) in residence at the university.
- Attained the required percentile ranking on the basis of all work for which grades are averaged at the university, including any grades earned before an academic separation.
The Dean's Honors Lists consist of the names of those undergraduate students who have distinguished themselves by achieving during the previous semester the grade point averages required with a minimum of 12 credit hours earned and who have no Fs or NPs, during the same period. Students with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher will be placed on the Dean's High Honors List. Students with a grade point average of at least 3.5 but less than 3.75 will be placed on the Dean's Honors List. Students whose records include Incompletes become eligible for the Dean's Honors Lists once all Incompletes have been converted to final grades. Having earned a place on the Dean's High Honors List or Dean's Honors List is noted on the transcript.
Some majors offer outstanding students the opportunity to complete an honors program. Students who participate in an honors program in the major and satisfy the requirements for such a distinction, as specified by the major, may qualify to receive the degree "with honors in the major." The academic representative for the major can provide information regarding requirements for graduation with honors in the major.
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa, a national honor society, recognizes outstanding scholarship in the arts and sciences. The Alpha Chapter of Ohio, established at Western Reserve College in 1847, was one of the first 10 established nationally. Students may qualify for election to membership in the second semester of their senior year. A few outstanding students may be elected to membership as juniors.
Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi is a national honor society that recognizes full-time engineering students for outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service.
Mortar Board
Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes full-time senior students for outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service.
Awards
The Carl F. Wittke Award was established in 1971 in honor of Carl Wittke, a former faculty member, dean and vice president of Western Reserve University. The Wittke Award is presented each year to two Case Western Reserve University faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching.
The Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring recognizes the positive impact Case Western Reserve University faculty and staff have on the lives of students. It was established by J. Bruce Jackson, Adelbert '52, in honor of Dean Carl F. Wittke, who served as an advisor, mentor, and friend to Dr. Jackson when he was an undergraduate student at Western Reserve University.
The Jackson Award celebrates faculty and staff who have guided a student in their academic and career paths; fostered the student's long-term personal development; challenged the student to reflect, explore and grow as an individual; and supported and/or facilitated the student's goals and life choices.
At academic awards assemblies at the end of each spring semester, the University recognizes the outstanding achievement of individual students. Departmental awards are based on achievement in specific academic disciplines. Some departmental and collegiate awards are based on a combination of leadership, scholarship, and service. The collegiate awards for students with the best academic records take into account credit load and grades. Students who opt for the Pass/No Pass grading option in a course will not be eligible for best academic record awards unless the original grades submitted by the instructor to the Registrar's Office would qualify them.
For a complete list of awards, visit the Departmental and Collegiate Awards page.
Fellowships and Scholarships
Interested in applying for a fellowship or scholarship? Please review the links below and then contact us to make an advising appointment.
For a complete list of national fellowships and scholarships, please visit the National Fellowships and Scholarships page.
For a complete list of fellowship and scholarship opportunities for CWRU and Ohio students please visit the CWRU and Ohio Fellowships and Scholarships page.
For searchable databases with a wide array of targeted scholarships and fellowships (including opportunities for graduate students), visit:
For information about internationally focused scholarships, visit the Office of Education Abroad's website.
For information about research positions and research funding, please visit the SOURCE website.