MBA/MAcc/MM/MSCM/MBAn Academic Honors

Academic Honors at Graduation

Degrees with distinction are awarded based on a student’s cumulative GPA or VPA. For MBAs, calculations are done with MAP. Graduate students who rank in the top 10 percent of their class, by degree program, are recommended for a degree “with High Distinction.” Those students who rank in the top 20 percent of their class, by degree program, but not in the top 10 percent are recommended for a degree “with Distinction.”. A notation is made on the transcript.

The point conversions for honors range as follows:

  • High Distinction: 3.500 to 4.000
  • Distinction: 3.250 to 3.499

To evaluate records for academic honors, the following equivalencies apply:

  • Excellent = A+, A = 4 value points
  • Good = A- = 3 value points
  • Pass = B+, B = 2 value points
  • Low Pass = B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- = 1 value point
  • Fail = E, ED = 0 value points
  • Special Grades = I, NR, ED, ILF = 0 value points

Note that value points as listed are not a grading scale, but are solely used to determine academic honors. To determine the average, total the equivalent value points for each grade earned and divide by the total number of class credits earned in those graded classes (CTP). Some student records may include grades earned under both the Business School grading system and the grading scales used by other University of Michigan schools and colleges. Note that grades earned on a Pass/Fail grading basis and those earned in undergraduate level language courses are not included when calculating academic honors.

Honors for dual degree students are calculated by using all credit hours, both business and nonbusiness, elected in terms when the student was registered under their Graduate Business Administration career. Note that grades earned on a Pass/Fail grading basis and those earned in undergraduate level language courses are not included when calculating academic honors. Individual class rank is not computed.

Honor Societies

  • Beta Gamma Sigma: Beta Gamma Sigma is an international honorary business administration society. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest international recognition a student can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program in business or management accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. To be eligible for membership, a student must rank in the upper 10 percent of the junior class, upper 10 percent of the senior class, or upper 20 percent of the graduating master’s class (as of the end of the Fall term prior to graduation for seniors and master’s students). For MBA students, this calculation is done including the MAP (BA 553) grade.  Beta Gamma Sigma contacts eligible candidates for admission.
  • Financial Management Association National Honor Society: The Financial Management Association is a professional organization that sponsors a national honor society for finance students. Membership requires outstanding scholastic achievement in both finance and accounting courses. While Ross Business School does not have a Chapter of this organization, information about the organization can be found at their website https://www.fma.org/national-honor-society.

Dean’s List Recognition of Academic Achievement

Ross provides a term-specific recognition of graduate students who have performed exceptionally well in their academic coursework. This Dean’s List designation is recorded on the student’s unofficial transcripts. At the conclusion of each Fall and Winter term, students in the top 10% of their degree program will receive this designation. FTMBA1 and FTMBA2 students are evaluated separately, as are Weekend MBA first-year and second-year students. MAcc, MBAn, MSCM, and MM students will be evaluated within their respective degree programs. Online MBA students will be evaluated as a single group.

Graduate students are not considered for the Dean’s List in their final term. Instead, they are reviewed for official Academic Honors at Graduation (e.g., With Distinction, With High Distinction).

Eligibility requirements:

  • 9.00 or more credits completed in graded courses (pass/fail, credit/no-credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory graded courses are not included)
  • Credits must be in courses which would be applied toward the MBA degree (e.g., ELI courses not accepted for credit, undergraduate classes, except undergraduate foreign language courses approved for half credit)
  • All eligible credits must have grades recorded on transcript within one month of the end of the full term
  • Dual degree students must be registered under their GBA career for their term to be considered for the Dean’s List.