Grading Policy
Grading policies at SU are more rigorous than at most other law schools. SU Law students are graded on an A to F scale, with professors being required to give C's and D's; other schools use a more liberal grading range of A to C or even A to B. SU Law students really earn their grades; the same students would probably make higher grades at other law schools. Class rank is the best way to gauge the academic achievement of our students.
First-Year Grading Policy
There is a mandatory grading curve for first-year classes except Legal Writing I. Considerable bunching occurs on the grading scale, particularly in the middle ranges. The cumulative percentage of grades for first-year classes must be as follows:
| A- and above | 10 - 20% | 15%, plus or minus 5% |
| B+ and above | 25 - 35% | 30%, plus or minus 5% |
| B and above | 40 - 50% | 45%, plus or minus 5% |
| C and below | 15 - 25% | 20%, plus or minus 5% |
| C- and below | 5 - 15% | 10%, plus or minus 5% |
| D+ and below | 0 - 10% | 5%, plus or minus 5% |
Students who entered in 2003 or earlier are subject to a different 1L grading curve. Please contact our office for details.
Upper Level Grading Policy
In all upper level, multiple section courses taught by more than one professor in the same year, the same grading curve applies, although it is presumptive and not mandatory.
Class Rank
Class rank is compiled once each year. First-year class rank is created and published after all first-year classes are completed at the end of summer term. A tentative first-year class rank is available after spring grades are processed in late June. First-year students may contact the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to obtain their tentative ranking. Second-year, third-year, and graduate class ranks are created and published after all spring grades have been processed.
Class rank GPA cut-offs for students who were 1L (first-year) during the 2007 - 2008 school year are as follows:
- Top 10% Cumulative GPA of 3.401 - 3.846
- Top 25% Cumulative GPA of 3.200 - 3.846
- Top 50% Cumulative GPA of 2.890 - 3.846
Class rank GPA cut-offs for students who were 2L (second-year) during 2007 - 2008 are as follows:
- Top 10% Cumulative GPA of 3.436 - 3.887
- Top 25% Cumulative GPA of 3.230 - 3.887
- Top 50% Cumulative GPA of 2.984 - 3.887
Class rank GPA cut-offs for students who were 3L or 4L (third or fourth-year) during 2007 - 2008 are as follows:
- Top 10% Cumulative GPA of 3.476 - 3.900
- Top 25% Cumulative GPA of 3.298 - 3.900
- Top 50% Cumulative GPA of 3.047 - 3.900
Class rank GPA cut-offs for 2007 - 2008 graduates are as follows:
- Top 10% Cumulative GPA of 3.489 - 3.918
- Top 25% Cumulative GPA of 3.298 - 3.918
- Top 50% Cumulative GPA of 3.046 - 3.918
Dean's List
The Dean's List comprises the top ten percent of the current year students by year according to yearly grade point average.
Graduation Honors
Graduation honors are as follows:
| Cumulative GPA of 3.60 - 4.33 | Summa Cum Laude |
| Cumulative GPA of 3.40 - 3.59 | Magna Cum Laude |
| Cumulative GPA of 3.00 - 3.39 | Cum Laude |
Beginning with the May 2011 graduating class, graduation honors will be as follows:
| Top 2% of the Graduating Class | Summa Cum Laude |
| Next 8% of the Graduating Class | Magna Cum Laude |
| Next 15% of the Graduating Class | Cum Laude |
