What does it take to be on the dean's list at a state university?

At my state university, in one quarter a student needs to earn a 3.5 GPA for at least 12 units. A quick cross-check shows that this is true for most university’s in my state whether they use the semester or quarter system.

State University at Albany (NY) Dean’s list requirements: Source

n their first semester of study, in order to qualify for this distinction, students at the University at Albany must earn a grade point average of 3.25 or higher; students in subsequent semesters of study must earn a grade point average of 3.50 or higher. Additionally, to qualify for the Dean’s list each of these students must complete a minimum of 12 graduation credits in courses graded A-E with no grade lower than a C, and no incomplete (I) grades.

Both @muppetish and @gailcalled‘s answers are pointing you in the direction of where you need to go to find the answer to your question and that is to some source of information that is specific to the state university that you are attending. The information should be available on your university’s website, just as it is on the State University at Albany (NY) website that @gailcalled links to. If not, the information should be available somewhere on campus. The Dean’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, somewhere like that. I’ve been out of school for a long time…

Just out of curiosity, as I am not from the States and know little about the education system, what benefits are to be had by making the Dean’s list? Aside from doing well/excelling academically, what are the perks as such? We don’t have a system like that here, but of course, grades matter.

No specific perks other than bragging rights. Being tapped for Phi Beta Kappa has more intellectual cachet. It is a national academic honor society;

Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. The Society sponsors activities to advance these studies — the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences — in higher education and in society at large.”

@stardust “Making the Dean’s list” is simply an acknowledgement and recognition of a certain level of achievement in terms of one’s grade point average. Like most things that are merely an acknowledgement and recognition of a certain level of achievement, it really has no intrinsic value. It doesn’t come with a prize, though if you are applying for scholarships, it is something that can help you make your case. It is something a person can be proud of having accomplished, it is something that gives a person “bragging rights” if you want to look at it that way, and it is something you can list on a resume or a grad school application that will help you rather than hurt. I think that’s about it.

Thanks @gailcalled and @lillycoyote