THE PERCENTAGE of UST Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) graduates who will graduate with Latin honors decreased for the second consecutive year, but those who will receive the academic distinction still constitute the majority of the class of 2026.
Of the 772 graduating Artlets, 396 or 51.3% will be conferred Latin honors on Monday, June 8, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, based on the Solemn Investiture program given by the dean’s office.
Despite comprising the majority of the graduating class, the percentage of Latin honorees showed a downward trend. In 2024 and 2025, the percentage of AB Latin honorees were 77.39% and 65.16%, respectively. The faculty saw 74% of its 2023 graduates finish with honors.
This year, the faculty will produce a total of 21 summa cum laude, 145 magna cum laude and 230 cum laude graduates.
The Creative Writing program registered the highest percentage of awardees at 95.92%, with 47 of its 49 graduates finishing their college stint with honors. Of its graduates, seven will finish summa cum laude, 22 magna cum laude and 18 cum laude. The program emerged as the faculty’s only department with a Latin honors rate exceeding 90% this academic year.
The Communication program, which recorded the highest percentage of Latin honorees last year, posted a near 8-percentage-point decrease to 79.65% this year from 87.5% in 2025. A total of 90 of its 113 graduates attained Latin honors, composed of six summa cum laude, 50 magna cum laude and 34 cum laude awardees.
The English Language Studies program recorded a 75.76% (25 of 33 students) Latin honors rate, producing one summa cum laude, 10 magna cum laude and 14 cum laude graduates.
Sociology followed closely with 75%, with 21 of its 28 graduates obtaining Latin honors. Two of its graduates will finish summa cum laude, 14 will finish college magna cum laude while five will complete their undergraduate studies cum laude.
The History program posted a 66.67% (20 of 30 students) awardee rate, comprising two summa cum laude, 10 magna cum laude and eight cum laude graduates.
The Asian Studies program produced 21 Latin honorees, or 44.68% of 47 graduates, one of whom will march on stage magna cum laude alongside 20 cum laude recipients.
Of the 120 graduates from the Behavioral Science program, 49 or 40.83%, will finish their program with honors. Three will graduate summa cum laude, 11 magna cum laude and 35 cum laude.
The Political Science program will send off 40 Latin honorees, or 39.6% of its 101 graduates. Eight will finish magna cum laude while 32 will end their college stint cum laude.
Of the 72 Legal Management graduates, 29 or 40.28% will complete their college program with honors. Four will graduate magna cum laude while 25 will finish cum laude.
For the Literature program, 38.1% or eight of the 21 graduates will end their college journey with honors, seven of whom magna cum laude and one cum laude.
Philosophy also registered a 38.1% rate, with 16 of 42 graduates receiving distinctions, consisting of six magna cum laude and 10 cum laude awardees.
For the Economics program, 15 or 32.16%, out of 46 graduates will receive Latin honors. Two will earn their degree magna cum laude, while 13 cum laude.
The Journalism program recorded the lowest percentage of Latin honorees this year, with only 15 of 68 graduates finishing cum laude, or 22.06%.
As in the previous year, the University produced more than 7,000 graduates across its various faculties and colleges.
To qualify for Latin honors, a student must obtain at least a 1.75 general weighted average and no failed subjects throughout their academic journey.
Those whose final grades fall within the 1.201-1.450 range will be awarded magna cum laude, while the summa cum laude distinction requires at most a 1.200 average. F
