Honors colleges are an amazing resource, and can enhance your collegiate experience in many ways. Many high schoolers are unaware of what honors colleges are, how honors programs in college are different from high school honors, and the unique ways they can support your education.
In this article, we’ll explore what honors colleges are, the benefits they provide, and then discuss some great honors programs around the country. We won’t be able to cover every school’s honors program, but we’ll go over some notable examples. Let’s get started!
What are Honors Colleges?
An honors college is a selective division within a larger school, set up to offer more academic challenges and opportunities to remarkable students. The idea behind them is to offer an experience similar to a small liberal arts college within a larger university. These programs form unique communities, with their own housing, social events, classes, and advisors.
How honors programs are organized varies. Most universities have a general honors college, which is usually associated with the liberal arts and sciences schools. Honors is not a major, and you can study any subject while in the honors college. Other universities with multiple schools within them have separate honors programs for each (UT Austin does it this way). Honors housing is a separate dorm set aside for honors students. Schools with multiple different honors programs generally have all students in one honors dorm.
Honors schools offer several academic benefits to their students. Some offer additional courses, which are generally capped at smaller sizes, and allow for additional opportunities to interact with professors. Honors students also get priority for registration in non-honors courses.
Honors colleges generally offer additional opportunities for merit aid. These scholarships are only available to students in the honors colleges, and are generally among the most generous a school offers. These scholarships can include housing funds as well, for students who live on-campus.
A Note on Ivy+ Schools
Schools in the Ivy League, and that academic tier, do not have separate honors colleges. Students may graduate with academic honors, or departmental honors, but the entire school is meant to be academically rigorous, so they see no need for a separate college within themselves. Indeed, it is this Ivy League style experience that honors colleges are meant to replicate (and often do a good job of).
Best Honors Colleges
This is not an exhaustive list, and a school not being included here does not mean that its honors colleges are subpar. Instead, this is meant to be a sampler, to show you some of your options for honors education.
Arizona State University
ASU’s Barrett Honors College is a residential honors college with locations at all four of ASU’s campuses. Students are given additional access to research opportunities and internships with faculty, get priority course registration, and have access to honors specific courses.
You apply to Barrett after you have submitted your application to ASU. They recommend completing your ASU application at least 4-6 weeks before the deadline for Barrett. You need two letters of recommendation and an unofficial transcript to apply, but Barrett is currently test blind, and does not require SAT or ACT scores. You must answer one of the following prompts, in an essay of 300-500 words:
- Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.
- Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different – why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.
Clemson University
Clemson Honors College offers students primarily academic benefits, with a wide range of honors specific course offerings, including both smaller advanced seminars and more rigorous versions of departmental courses. There are specialized housing and academic facilities for honors students, and advanced research opportunities reserved for them.
You are able to apply to the honors college after you complete your application to Clemson generally. This requires an activities section, an honors section, two letters of recommendation, and two essays, of 650 words apiece. This years essay prompts are:
- Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). What inspired these interests and goals? What experiences, talents, accomplishments, identities, and/or personal qualities can you see influencing your college career and beyond?
- If you have already written a response to one of these prompts in your Common Application, that response is considered your second Honors application essay. If one is not on file, you are required to submit a response to one of the seven prompts.
- This third essay prompt is optional. Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee.
Penn State University
Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College is a residential program which offers students special honors courses, with smaller class sizes and advanced coursework. Honors students are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.4, and must complete an honors thesis in their senior year. There are specific scholarships available to honors students, including some specifically meant to support student research.
You need to indicate interest in the Honors College while applying to Penn State, and are able to submit the application once you have applied to Penn State. The application requires two to four letters of recommendation, a self-reported academic record, two longer essays of up to 800 words each, and eight short responses of up to 200 words each. These questions change on a yearly basis. You may optionally complete an alumni interview as part of the application process. While this is not required, it is recommended.
Purdue University
Purdue Honors College is a residential program which offers students a community within the broader Purdue campus. Honors students are expected to participate in events from the college, and are expected to take honors level coursework, culminating in a research project their senior year. There are specific scholarship opportunities for honors students.
To apply, you must indicate your interest in the Honors College on Purdue’s application before the November 1st priority deadline. You will be required to answer two additional essays to complete the application to the honors college.
Rutgers University
Rutgers’ Honors Program is specifically associated with the School of Arts and Sciences at the New Brunswick campus. It is a residential program, and offers students additional advising and research options, honors coursework, and additional opportunities for study abroad. Students are expected to complete a capstone research project in their senior year.
Students with exceptional academic achievement will be offered direct admission to the honors program when they apply to Rutgers, no additional application required. You generally need an SAT reading score of at least 650 or an ACT English score of 30 to be offered direct admission. If you are not offered direct admission, you may also apply to the program separately. This requires a letter of interest stating why you are interested in the honors program, a resume, and a 500 word essay.
Temple University
Temple University’s Honors Program is a residential program which offers students specialized advising, honors seminars, priority course registration, and graduate library privileges. Students are required to maintain a 3.25 GPA, and are expected to complete an Honors Thesis project. Honors courses are offered in all majors, and for various departmental courses. These have smaller class sizes and offer advanced options.
There is no separate application for incoming students to be considered for Honors, instead all students who apply have their applications considered for suitability for the honors program.
University of Connecticut
The UConn Honors Program accepts students from all UConn campuses and in all majors. Honors courses are offered across disciplines, covering both core requirements and major coursework. There is a residential community for first year students. Students in the honors program are required to complete a thesis during their senior year by doing original research.
There is no separate honors application for entering first year students; all UConn applicants are considered both for admission to the university as a whole, and to the honors program.
University of Delaware
The University of Delaware Honors Program is for students from all majors and colleges in the university. It offers students advanced honors courses in many subjects, first year honors housing, and community events for all four years. It also offers advising, internship options, research opportunities, and priority when registering for courses.
There is no additional application requirement for the honors college. Instead, you simply need to check a box on your application saying you are interested in the honors program, and your application will automatically be reviewed by the program if you are admitted to the university generally.
University of Georgia
The Morehead Honors College at UGA is for students in any major, and offers honors options in undergraduate coursework, along with the ability to enroll in graduate level courses. There is a residence hall for first year honors students. There are additional mentoring, advising, and internship opportunities for honors students. There are two generous merit scholarships specifically for honors students.
Students who apply to UGA Early Action are automatically considered for acceptance to Morehead if they are accepted to UGA. If you are not automatically accepted, you may submit a separate application to the honors program.
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
The Campus Honors Program at UIUC is open to students in any major. The program is run out of the Honors House, which is not a dorm, but instead a study area and community center for honors students. There are honors courses available, and honors students are offered advanced registration. All honors students receive some merit funding. Honors students are expected to complete a capstone research project during their senior year.
All students who apply to UIUC are automatically considered for honors programs, with no additional application required. There is an application supplement you may complete and submit by December 1st, but it is not required. This form contains three essay questions:
- Please explain your interest in an extracurricular activity or work experience. Limit your response to 200-400 words.
- Please explain how you have made a difference in your high school or community, and what you hope to contribute to the Campus Honors Program. Limit your response to 200-400 words.
- Please provide additional information that you would like to be included. Limit your response to 200-400 words.
University of Oregon
The Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon offers students a residential community and an academic community, with their own residence hall and academic building. Honors students are part of any major on campus, and all take part in a liberal arts based honors curriculum, with small class sizes and a research focus. All students are required to complete a senior thesis.
You must indicate you are interested in the Honors College when applying, this will give you access to the additional honors prompt. The Honors College, and the university generally, are test optional. Here is the honors prompt, which must be completed in addition to the Common App essay:
- Tell us one specific story about yourself. Choose something that illustrates what you would contribute to the CHC and/or what you hope to get from your time at the CHC (650 words maximum).
Final Thoughts
Honors colleges give you additional options academically, socially, and financially at a college. While they are not the right choice for all students, they offer a kind of compromise to students torn between the liberal arts experience and a large research university. We hope that the options here are a good introduction to what honors colleges can offer you.
Of course, this is far from a complete list of all the honors programs out there, and finding the best one for you can feel like an overwhelming task. To hear how we can help you build the ultimate college list, and find the right programs for you, schedule a free consultation today. We have a depth of experience helping students apply to colleges, and are always happy to hear from you.
