https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/registration-records-and-graduation/graduation-and-diplomas/graduation-honors.html
Latin Honors
Latin honors are awarded to Baccalaureate degree recipients who have achieved a high cumulative grade point average (GPA) and completed their school's minimum number of points in residence.
Effective with the September 2008 graduating class, with the exclusion of Abu Dhabi, the GPA cutoffs for each category are determined by the combined GPA distribution from the preceding academic year, all graduation moments included.
Summa cum laude: the GPA included within the top 5 percent of the previous year's graduating class.
Magna cum laude: the GPA included within the next 10 percent of the previous year's class.
Cum laude: the GPA included within the next 15 percent of the previous year's class.
For example, the necessary GPA level for summa cum laude for students graduating in September 2013 to May 2014 will be based on the GPA cutoff for the top 5 percent of the combined graduates from September 2012, January 2013, and May 2013.
For NYU Abu Dhabi students, Latin honors are determined by the official cumulative GPA as follows:
Summa cum laude: the top five percent of the graduating class in each division
Magna cum laude: the next 10 percent of the graduating class in each division
Cum laude: the next 15 percent of the graduating class in each division