Colleges That Have Honors Programs

College honors programs offer high-achieving students several benefits including advanced courses, priority class registration, specialized housing, and more. Not all colleges and universities have these programs, but it’s a great way to make the most of your experience if you attend one that does. In this article, we explain what you can expect from a college honors program, detail how you can apply to one, and provide over 160 colleges and universities that have honors programs in the United States.

What Is a College Honors Program?

Flickr user Wayne State University Honors

College honors programs are for high-achieving students at select schools. They provide access to advanced classes and other benefits, such as smaller classes, access to unique extracurriculars, exclusive internships, and more. In some cases, you’ll have to pay extra to participate.

Most colleges require their honors students to attend specialized seminars for the first semester or year and discussions with their peers throughout their entire school experience. You may also have to complete a capstone project before graduation.

Some universities also have “honors colleges,” which comprises several honors programs.

Benefits of an Honors Program

Honors programs come with several perks and benefits for their students! The exact offerings depend on the school, but here are some common ones:

• Smaller classes: You’ll be with fellow honors students in most of your courses. They’re kept small to promote discussion, and they have low faculty-to-student ratios.
• Advanced courses: Since you’ve demonstrated you can take on advanced coursework, you’ll be taking rigorous classes, which help you prepare more for your future career or education goals.
• Priority registration: Honors students are allowed to register before other students for their general population classes.
• Scholarships: Many colleges and universities have exclusive scholarships for their honors students, which can range from a few hundred dollars to a full ride.
• Acknowledgement: Your transcripts will note you participated in the honors programs, and several schools also acknowledge honors graduation on student degrees.
• Specialized housing: Honors programs tend to have dedicated housing for participants, with unique benefits. For example, your dorm room might be very close to classrooms or come with a dedicated study space or resource center. At other schools, honors students may have priority access to the newest dorm rooms, private dorms, or those with extra amenities.
• Exclusive extracurriculars: Some clubs and extracurriculars are only available to honors students.
• Events: Schools often offer unique events dedicated to honors students, such as balls or galas, dinners or lunches, workshops, study halls, parties, and more.
• Unique opportunities: You could have access to internships, jobs, leadership positions, and more.

How Do You Get Into an Honors Program?

Honors programs are highly competitive – only a handful of students get in each year. Most schools require you to apply with your college application, but others accept upperclassmen into major-based honors programs, too.

To apply, you’ll normally have to complete a separate honors application with an essay or personal statement on the supplied prompt, usually by the school’s early action deadlines.

To improve your chances of acceptance, you should have a high GPA, ACT/SAT score, and class rank. You’ll also need a well-rounded college application, including demonstrated leadership experience, participation in extracurriculars, volunteer work, a solid essay, and strong letters of recommendation.

160+ Colleges That Have Honors Programs

There are thousands of colleges and universities in the United States – these are just some of the schools that have honors programs! Visit your college’s website to learn more about their honors college or other specialized programs.

Should You Join an Honors Program?

Whether you apply to an honors program is up to you! They absolutely bring a number of benefits for participating students, but they come with higher workloads and more responsibilities.

Before deciding, research your potential colleges’ programs, looking for the answers to these questions:

• What are the benefits of the program?
• Does it cost extra?
• Does acceptance come with guaranteed scholarships?
• What do I need to do to apply?
• What responsibilities do I have to meet if I’m accepted?

Should you decide that an honors program is right for you, apply as soon as possible. Space is limited and highly competitive – you’ll likely have to have your application in well before regular decision deadlines. If you have any questions about your application, the requirements, or the benefits, reach out to your college’s admission department or the honors college/program.

Want to explore the colleges listed above and others that have honors programs? Start with College Match, which matches you with colleges that meet your unique needs and wants. It’s completely free!