Apply to Honors
The Honors Program offers several entry points for students with a desire to broaden or deepen their academic studies.
High School Seniors and New UNC First Year Applicants
Incoming first year students are urged to apply to join the Honors Program in their first semester, for benefits such as the Honors Residential Learning Community, honors social events, and honors only first year coursework. Students entering UNC directly from High School, regardless of the number of college credit hours already earned, always begin with the First Year Honors Experience.
Transfer Students
Undergraduate transfer students may also apply for the University Honors Program. Transfer students should apply through their Admissions portal after applying to UNC.
Current UNC Students
We accept applications from current UNC students as long as the student has at least two years for University Honors Program or one year to complete an Honors Capstone.
Qualifying Criteria
Successful applicants must demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a willingness to ask challenging questions, an interest in exploring their world, and/or a desire to create new ways of doing things. No specific minimum standardized test scores nor minimum GPA is required. Students often demonstrate their academic potential through achievement in high school, but that is not the only way to demonstrate potential, and we understand that there may be many extenuating circumstances that impact a student’s GPA.
Apply to Honors
Incoming High School and Transfer Students should first apply to UNC. Once accepted to UNC, the Honors Program application will appear in the Admitted Students portal for students with a GPA of 3.5 or above. If you cannot find the Honors Application in your Admitted Students portal, please email us at honors@unco.edu. We do not require a minimum GPA, and will send you the link to apply!
Application Questions
Please answer the following two questions. You are encouraged to draft your responses in a separate document and then copy and paste your response into the application. You must use your own words and may not use A.I. generated text as your response. We want to hear your voice and read your story. The responses are not evaluated on grammar. You may use a spell checker.
Question 1) UNC’s Honors Program fosters a diverse and inclusive community of intellectually curious student scholars. We seek students who want to engage deeply in their learning, not simply for the sake of achieving good grades, but for the intrinsic reward of discovering more about the world around them. The Honors Program accepts students who tend to ask complex questions and challenge themselves to seek solutions where none seem to exist. The Honors Program values creativity and originality as well as hard work, motivation and critical thinking.
Please tell us about one area of interest that you are passionate about and would like to explore or engage with further. Your chosen area of interest can be from any domain: academic, artistic, cultural, scientific, athletic or any other area. Please showcase your curiosity and your engagement with the world through your response. (Responses should be 200-400 words).
Question 2) By joining the University Honors Program, you will become a member of our community of scholars, who all have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. Please tell us what aspects from your background, experience, and story will enrich our University Honors Program community. (Responses should be 100-300 words).
Question 1) Discuss one issue, problem, concern or research question that you would be interested exploring in more depth? Or discuss one creative project that you would like to endeavor to create. Why have you chosen this issue or creative project? In what ways would you be interested in exploring the issue/would you pursue this project? Do not use AI generated text as your response, we want to hear YOUR voice. (500 words or less).
Question 2) What are your future educational, graduate school and/or professional goals? How does the Honors Program fit into your plans? (200 words or less).
Please answer the following two questions. You are encouraged to draft your responses in a separate document and then copy and paste your response into the application. You must use your own words and may not use A.I. generated text as your response. We want to hear your voice and read your story. The responses are not evaluated on grammar. You may use a spell checker.
Question 1) UNC’s Honors Program fosters a diverse and inclusive community of intellectually curious student scholars. We seek students who want to engage deeply in their learning, not simply for the sake of achieving good grades, but for the intrinsic reward of discovering more about the world around them. The Honors Program accepts students who tend to ask complex questions and challenge themselves to seek solutions where none seem to exist. The Honors Program values creativity and originality as well as hard work, motivation and critical thinking.
Please tell us about one area of interest that you are passionate about and would like to explore or engage with further. Your chosen area of interest can be from any domain: academic, artistic, cultural, scientific, athletic or any other area. Please showcase your curiosity and your engagement with the world through your response. (Responses should be 200-400 words).
Question 2) By joining the University Honors Program, you will become a member of our community of scholars, who all have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. Please tell us what aspects from your background, experience, and story will enrich our University Honors Program community. (Responses should be 100-300 words).
Transfer Students are also asked to list one academic reference.
Application Priority Due Dates
Apply to UNC first. Then, if you are accepted to UNC and are determined to be automatically eligible for honors, you will receive an invitation through your admitted students portal to apply to the Honors Program, which is a separate application. If you do not find that Apply to Honors option in your portal please email us at honors@unco.edu, and we can help you! Any incoming student may apply to Honors, with no minimum High School or transfer GPA nor any minimum test score. Simply request the Honors Program application if you do not automatically see the application in your new student portal.
- Early Action Deadline for Fall semester is December 10.
- Fall Priority deadline is March 10.
- Last Chance deadline is August 1.
- Spring Admission for incoming students from high school deadline is November 1.
Apply to UNC first. Then, if you are accepted to UNC, you will receive an invitation through your admitted students portal to apply to the Honors Program, which is a separate application. Contact us at honors@unco.edu with any questions about your Honors Program application.
- Preferred deadline is March 10 for Fall semester start and November 10 for Spring semester start.
- Rolling deadline for Fall start is through the summer until August 1; final deadline for a Spring start is December 1.
- But apply sooner for more time to discover how the Honors Program can fit with your degree needs!
Apply directly to Honors Program, for any Program entry point, using the application link below.
- Priority deadline is March 10 for Fall semester start and November 10 for Spring semester start.
- Rolling deadline for Fall start is through the summer until August 1; final deadline for a Spring start is December 1.
- But apply sooner for more time to discover how the Honors Program can fit with your degree needs!
Honors Program Entry Points
A one year program for students entering Honors from high school. Students complete one honors course each semester of their first year along with Honors Connect co-curricular activities.
A full Honors Program designed to last over the entire time a student is an undergraduate and can be completed in two to four years. Includes curricular and co-curricular requirements along with a capstone.
The Honors Capstone can be completed as a stand-alone option for seniors or juniors who do not have enough room in their schedule for the full University Honors Program. Includes 4 credits of capstone coursework and the completion of a research, applied or creative work.
Contact Us
Honors Program
- honors@unco.edu
- 970-351-2940
- Michener L098
- Book a Meeting with us!