Class Rank and Honors

  1. Interim Class Rank

    Interim class ranks for JD students are calculated at the end of each regular (fall/spring) semester before graduation and shall not include transfer students or students in the Dual J.D. degree program who took their first-year classes at the University of Ottawa.

  2. Final Class Rank and Honors

    The calculation of final class rank upon graduation for JD students shall not include any students who have not received at least seventy (70) MSU Law graded credits from classes taken at MSU College of Law, excluding those taken on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis. In order to be eligible for class honors upon graduation, a JD student must have received at least fifty-three (53) MSU Law graded credits from classes taken at MSU College of Law, excluding those taken on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis.

  3. Decile Calculations

    JD students who are excluded from the calculation of Interim or Final Class Rank shall have their MSU College of Law grade point averages compared to those of their classmates (based on year of graduation) for the same time period. The Registrar shall generate reports of the grades of JD students included in class rank calculations for the requisite time periods, indicating decile cutoffs. In lieu of a class rank, JD students excluded from class rank calculations shall be told into which decile their grade point average falls. The Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Affairs has explanatory material available in their office if needed.

  4. Cohorts

    1. Description of Cohorts
      • D1: Includes all first-year full-time JD students, regardless of the number of credits taken.
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      • D2: Includes all full-time JD students who are beyond their first academic year, but are not eligible to graduate in the upcoming year.
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      • D3: Includes any full-time JD student who will be completing graduation requirements in the upcoming academic year (fall, spring or summer).
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  5. Non-JD Students Cohorts

    Class rankings are not available for non-JD students.

Updated July 20, 2021

Student Handbook