Finding the Best Honors Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide

For academically gifted students, honors colleges can provide an incredibly valuable and cost-effective undergraduate experience. When you can combine the resources of a large university with the individualized attention and rigorous academics of a top-tier liberal arts college, the experience can be transformative.

The Rise of Honors Colleges

Honors programs of various kinds have been around since the GI Bill brought a wave of bright, financially aware students to public universities after WWII, but the fully developed honors college is more recent. The majority of honors colleges were established in the 1990s to entice students of Ivy League caliber to attend public institutions. Today, almost every major public university promotes some kind of honors distinction.

Understanding Honors College Admissions

Admission to honors colleges varies. Some are relatively formulaic, with acceptance based on meeting specific criteria. For instance, the University of Alabama’s Honors College automatically admits students with an ACT score of 30 (or SAT score of 1360) and a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Other honors colleges employ highly selective, holistic admissions processes. The Michigan State University Honors College reports that its students have an average SAT score of 1450 and typically rank in the top 5% of their high school class. At the University of Pittsburgh, students average SAT scores between 1450 and 1500 and have an unweighted GPA of 3.8. The Schreyer Honors College at Penn State is known for its highly competitive, single-digit acceptance rate, comparable to that of Ivy League schools.

Types of Honors Colleges and Programs

Honors colleges can be either part of large, comprehensive universities, such as Schreyer at Penn State and Barrett at Arizona State, or stand-alone institutions, such as St. Mary's College of Maryland. However, many institutions offer honors programs rather than full-fledged colleges. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a "program" designation may indicate a less comprehensive experience than a "college."

Ideally, an honors college will provide a diverse selection of honors-only courses with class sizes comparable to those of elite liberal arts schools, typically ranging from 15 to 20 students. However, the number of courses offered and the class sizes vary significantly across institutions. Unfortunately, some programs offer only a few honors courses with 15-20 students, meaning that these courses will not be the norm for your academic experience.

Benefits of Honors Colleges

Academic Advantages

Small Class Sizes: Honors colleges typically offer smaller class sizes, which allow for more personalized attention from professors and more in-depth discussions.
Honors-Only Courses: A wide variety of honors-only courses provide a more challenging and enriching academic experience.
Research Opportunities: Honors colleges often provide unique research opportunities, allowing students to work with leading faculty members.
Personalized Curriculum: Many honors colleges allow students to customize their curriculum to fit their individual interests and goals.
Senior Thesis or Capstone Project: Many honors colleges require students to complete a senior thesis or capstone project, which allows them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a particular area.

Community and Extracurricular Opportunities

Honors-Only Housing: Many honors colleges offer honors-only housing, which allows students to live with other academically-minded students.
Community-Building Events: Regular community-building events, such as guest lectures and workshops, provide opportunities for students to connect with each other and with faculty members.
Leadership Development Programs: Honors colleges often offer leadership development programs, which help students develop their leadership skills.
Networking Opportunities: Honors colleges provide opportunities for students to network with professionals in their field of interest.

Financial Advantages

Lower Tuition Costs: State schools (without merit aid considerations) typically have lower tuition costs than private colleges.
Merit Aid: Many honors students qualify for substantial merit aid from the larger university at which they enroll, making honors colleges an even greater value.

Rankings and Recognition

Several ranking systems have been established to help students and families choose from the growing number of honors colleges. College Transitions, for example, created a ranking of the 50 best honors colleges in the U.S. based on admissions selectivity, availability of housing and other benefits for honors students, and academic rigor.

Examples of Top-Ranked Honors Colleges

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University: A highly regarded, residential college for academically outstanding undergraduates. It offers a personalized academic experience backed by the resources and expansive opportunities of a Research I university. A $12 million endowment exclusively supports honors students and their projects.
Schreyer Honors College at Penn State: Widely and consistently recognized as one of the top undergraduate programs in the United States.
The Honors College at Clemson University: Combines the strengths of a public, land-grant university with those of a highly selective small college.
Miami University Honors College: Aims to produce citizen scholars who emerge with a lifelong love of learning and a commitment to using their talents to advance the common good.
South Carolina Honors College: Combines the resources of a top-tier research university with the feel of a small liberal arts college.
University Honors Program at The Ohio State University: Promotes the intellectual and personal development of undergraduate students through an enriched academic experience.
University Honors at University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Offers honors-only advising, research funding, and access to an honors living-learning community.
University of Connecticut Honors Program: A vibrant community across all UConn’s campuses in majors spanning all undergraduate schools and colleges.
The University Honors Program at Texas A&M University: Focuses on personal, professional, and intellectual development through layering high-impact experiences.
University of Delaware Honors College: Provides opportunities for academically talented and motivated students to take advantage of the resources of a major research institution while maintaining the feel and attention of a much smaller university.
Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College (HTC): Provides high-achieving students with flexibility to pursue their academic interests in intensive one-on-one and small-group tutorials with faculty.
John Martinson Honors College at Purdue University: Offers a dynamic and rigorous curriculum designed to challenge and inspire enrolled students.
Michigan’s LSA Honors Program: Provides an especially rich and challenging set of academic offerings to talented and highly motivated students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
The Honors College at University of Mississippi: Merges intellectual rigor with community action.

Making the Right Choice

Determine Your Budget: Before becoming attached to any schools or programs, determine what you can realistically afford each year.
Compare Academics: Compare your GPA, test scores (if applicable), and class rank to the typical admissions criteria for each program on your list.
Consider Your Interests: Think about your interests and long-term plans. Identify programs with strong offerings in your intended major or opportunities for exploration if you’re undecided.
Research Financial Aid: Research the scholarships and aid available at each program.
Consider Location and Environment: Decide where you’d feel most comfortable-urban, suburban, or rural-and whether proximity to home matters.
Visit Campuses: Attend campus tours, virtual info sessions, or honors-specific open houses.
Narrow Your Options: Combine everything you’ve learned to narrow your options.
Ask Questions: Contact admissions staff or current students to clarify any remaining questions.

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