Honors Admission Criteria
- Applications are considered as they are received.
- Selection to the University Honors Program (UHP) is competitive with limited seats and scholarships available.
- Applications will be considered holistically.
- Applications should be complete (all material submitted) by December 15 for priority consideration for the following Fall semester.
- If all initial seats have been filled, you may be placed on a waitlist.
To qualify for First Time, First Year Honors Scholarships, all materials must be received no later than July 1st (the official ISU scholarship deadline) for Fall entry and November 1st for Spring entry. However, all seats are typically offered and filled by March. We encourage you to apply early!
International Students: International Students are eligible to apply to the University Honors Program. Please use the International Student Application to apply to the Honors Program.
Honors Admission Criteria
First Time, First Year Students - Undergraduate ISU Freshmen
(Recent high school graduates or students who have not previously attended ISU or another university/college. Includes International Students.)
- High school GPA (unweighted) of 3.6 or better from an accredited school -OR- SAT Total Score of 1200 or greater -OR- ACT Composite Score of 25 or greater. No super-scoring.
- One letter of recommendation. The letter can come from a non-related high school teacher, official, or individual (e.g., principal, assistant principal, counselor) who can speak to your academic abilities.
- 2-3 page personal statement explaining who you are, your goals, and why you would like to be a member of the University Honors Program (UHP). In addition, if you do not meet the GPA/SAT/ACT minimum, please include a discussion of that in this essay.
- List of leadership experiences and community involvement, including student clubs, service projects, etc.
- List of prior and/or current college coursework (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).
Note: For UHP admittance, students can pursue an Associate's degree; however, students must earn a Bachelor's degree in order to be awarded Honors Distinction or Honors Degree upon graduation.
If you submitted an application and then received a higher ACT or SAT score at a later date, you MUST contact the Honors Program in order for your application to be reconsidered. Contact us at honors@isu.edu.
Late Admittance Students - Current ISU And Transfer Students
(Students already attending ISU or students transferring to ISU from another university or college. Includes International students.)
- Completed at least 26 undergraduate college credits (does not include AP credits or Early College/Dual Enrollment courses taken in high school).
- University/College GPA of 3.5 or better.
- Completed ENGL 1101 (or equivalent) with a grade of B or better.
- One letter of reference. The letter can be from a non-related professor, instructor, advisor, official, or individual who can speak to your academic abilities.
- 2-3 page personal statement explaining who you are, your goals, and why you would like to be a member of the University Honors Program (UHP). In addition, if you do not meet one or more of the eligibility minimums, please include a discussion of that in this essay.
- Transfer Students - Include a list of prior and current college coursework (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).
Note: Transfer students may apply up to 9 credits of Honors work from other institutions towards an Honors Distinction, or up to 12 credits of Honors work towards an Honors Degree.
Note: For UHP admittance, students can pursue an Associate's degree; however, students must earn a Bachelor's degree in order to be awarded Honors Distinction or Honors Degree upon graduation.