
APPLY TO THE HONORS COLLEGE
Debating between a small college and large university? Why not have both?
The Honors College offers the best of both worlds — the personal support and attention of a small college combined with the diversity and resources of a large university.
Honors College students enjoy these benefits:
- Small Classes for all Majors: We offer a range of Honors-designated classes with limited enrollment that encourage stimulating discussions and interactions.
- Priority Registration: Every semester, our students are the first to register for classes, ensuring that they enroll in the classes they want.
- Accessible Faculty/Staff: Honors College faculty and staff are readily available for one-on-one interactions with students. Four academic advisers are available year-round to meet with students.
- Student Community: Club Theater, Movie Night, Coffee House, Retreat, Model Arab League, Mentorship and museum trips are just a few of the many social organizations and activities that build community beyond the classroom.
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards: Housed in the Honors College, this program assists students with securing practical research and internship opportunities.
- Distinction: The Honors College curriculum is designed to complement any field of study so that every student has the opportunity to be recognized with special distinction at graduation.
Other Amenities:
- Reserved computer labs, study areas, lounges and residence halls
- Scholarship opportunities
- Access to special study abroad and research opportunities
- Individualized orientation and advising sessions
Consideration Dates
For fall candidates
November 1 — Priority Scholarship Deadline for admission to the University of Houston
March 1 (Priority Deadline) — Priority Application deadline for admission to the Honors College. Students admitted to the Honors College by this deadline will be invited to Scholars Invitational, the exclusive Honors College Orientation opportunity for priority enrollment.
June 2 — Deadline for admission to the Honors College. Final decisions for fall semester admissions are made by August 1. Students are highly encouraged to complete their application by March 1.
June 2 — Application and supporting documents deadline for admission to the University of Houston. Visit the University of Houston Admissions website for additional information.
Freshman applicants seeking University scholarships are advised to apply during the fall semester of their senior year in high school (by Nov. 1), as the University reserves the right to cease awarding scholarships once funds are exhausted.
June 23 — Mid-career application deadline for admission to the Honors College and the University of Houston. Supporting documents deadline June 30.
For spring candidates
December 20 — Application and supporting documents deadline for spring admissions. Final decisions for spring semester admission are made during the first two weeks of January.
Application FAQ
Students must be admissible to the University of Houston. For admission to the University, please visit the University of Houston Office of Admissions.
All applicants are evaluated on an individual basis. The Honors College Admissions Committee considers the high school and/or academic record, extracurricular activities, test scores (when provided) and essay of each applicant.
Average Honors students have graduated in the top 10% of their high school class with a score of 1300 or above on the SAT. The committee, however, does not use these numerical norms as required thresholds for admission, and students meeting these criteria are not automatically accepted. All interested students are encouraged to apply. See the Honors Profile for more entering class information.
To apply for admission to the Honors College, students must submit the following:
- Honors College Online Application
- A full-length academic essay: a literary analysis with a central thesis and strong
supporting arguments, 3–5 pages
Résumé or list of activities and interests - High school transcript (high school seniors only)
- Transcript of all college-level work
- SAT or ACT scores (high school seniors only)*
Note: If you have already sent transcripts or test scores to the University, you do
not need to re-send them to the Honors College. However, you can expedite the processing
of your application to the Honors College by submitting unofficial copies of your
transcripts directly to the Honors College. We will verify that your official transcripts
have been received by the University Office of Admissions and process your application
quicker.
Students may submit their supporting documents via the online application or by email to honors@uh.edu. Please include your UH ID on all submitted documents.
* University of Houston admissions requirements for spring, summer and fall 2025 are "test optional." You will select if you want your UH application to be reviewed with or without a test score. Additional information may be found here. The Honors College will continue to review applicants holistically based on test-optional selections.
Admission decisions are made within approximately two to three weeks of our receipt of a completed application and all supporting documents. Admission decisions for the following fall semester occur on a rolling basis beginning in October. Admission decisions for the spring semester occur during December, contingent upon receipt of all documents.
Admission decisions are delivered by mail and email and cannot be shared by phone. To confirm contact details, contact the Student Services Office at 713.743.9010 or 888.827.0366 or via email at honors@uh.edu.
Every Honors applicant is evaluated on an individual basis. The Honors College Admissions Committee considers the academic record, extracurricular activities, test scores* and the essay of each applicant. Average Honors students have graduated in the top 10% of their high school class with a score of 1300 or above on their SAT. The committee, however, does not use these numerical norms as required thresholds for admission, and students meeting these criteria are not automatically accepted.
Mid-career applicants should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 to be considered. The admissions committee will also review closely the student's work in their core courses, such as English, history and mathematics.
All interested students are encouraged to apply. See the Honors Profile for more entering class information.
* University of Houston admissions requirements for spring, summer and fall 2025 are "test optional." You will select if you want your UH application to be reviewed with or without a test score. Additional information may be found here. The Honors College will continue to holistically review an applicant's criterion.
Students who complete 36 semester hours of the Honors College curriculum and are active members in good standing at the time of graduation are eligible to graduate with University Honors.
If a student also completes a senior honors thesis or project, he or she is eligible to graduate with University Honors with Honors in Major.
Students who complete a minimum of 21 semester hours in specified Honors coursework graduate with Collegiate Honors. Collegiate Honors students also have the option to complete one of three Honors minors to fulfill their Honors course requirements. Collegiate Honors students may also complete a senior honors thesis to graduate with Collegiate Honors with Honors in Major.
Students who fulfill the requirements of their major with distinction and write a senior honors thesis graduate with Membership in the Honors College with Honors in Major. Moreover, all Honors courses are designated on a student's transcript. Research and experience have proven that graduate schools, professional schools and prospective employers are impressed by Honors College coursework.
Take Honors courses for three important reasons.
- First, the coursework presents challenging texts, ideas and methods whose aim is to add depth and breadth to every student's education and development.
- Second, Honors faculty members have been specifically chosen for their commitment to undergraduate education and their excellence as teachers, which means that students receive the finest quality of education possible.
- And third, in Honors courses, students will be among their brightest peers, allowing them to learn, not only from experienced professors, but from each other, both inside and outside the classroom.
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Landing pages give you many interesting design options. The Edit: Content panel is where you make your vision a reality; however, that may mean sorting through a lot of editing tools which may have lots of options and sub-options. This Section offers some practical and pragmatic tips on the Edit panel as a whole. Open each of these Accordion Collapsible areas to learn more.Landing pages give you many interesting design options. The Edit: Content panel is where you make your vision a reality; however, that may mean sorting through a lot of editing tools which may have lots of options and sub-options. This Section offers some practical and pragmatic tips on the Edit panel as a whole. Open each of these Accordion Collapsible areas to learn more.Landing pages give you many interesting design options. The Edit: Content panel is where you make your vision a reality; however, that may mean sorting through a lot of editing tools which may have lots of options and sub-options. This Section offers some practical and pragmatic tips on the Edit panel as a whole. Open each of these Accordion Collapsible areas to learn more.Landing pages give you many interesting design options. The Edit: Content panel is where you make your vision a reality; however, that may mean sorting through a lot of editing tools which may have lots of options and sub-options. This Section offers some practical and pragmatic tips on the Edit panel as a whole. Open each of these Accordion Collapsible areas to learn more.As with most undergraduate colleges, the Honors College does charge fees to pay for various services and events. All undergraduate college fees can be viewed at the financial aid site.