There are a variety of entry points into the Honors Program. The application you complete depends on the point you are at in your college career.
Decide which of the following statements best describes your situation and complete the appropriate application.
The application process requires a discussion of involvement as well as a personal statement designed to give the Honors Admissions Committee a sense of how motivated the applicant is to pursue academic work. Acceptance into the program is not automatic, rather it is based on information submitted in the Honors Program Freshman Application.
To be considered for an Honors First-Year Scholarship, the application deadline is March 1. For Honors Program admission only, the application deadline is April 1.
Current Illinois State students who meet the Honors Program requirements are invited to apply to the Program at any point during their time at the University. Admission for current students is based on GPA, reflection on involvement and activities, and a personal statement. Acceptance into the program is not automatic; rather it is based on information submitted in the Honors Program Current ISU Student Application.
Current students who are admitted are involved on campus and in the community, have strong writing and self-reflection skills, and typically have a cumulative GPA of 3.5. The minimum GPA to be admitted is 3.3; students in the 3.3 - 3.5 range typically have exceptional involvement on campus and demonstrate excellent writing and self-reflection.
Application timelines:
Fall Admission
The application is available from January 1 until July 1.
Spring Admission
The application is available from July 15 until December 15.
Current students can apply to the Honors Program through the iCampus portal.
Incoming transfer students who meet Honors Program requirements are invited to apply to the Program after they have been admitted to the University. Admission for transfer students is based on GPA, reflection on involvement and activities, and a personal statement. Acceptance into the program is not automatic; rather it is based on information submitted in the application.
Transfer students who are admitted are involved on their campus and in their community, have strong writing and self-reflection skills, and typically have a 3.5 GPA from their transfer institution. The minimum GPA to be admitted is 3.3; students in the 3.3 - 3.5 range typically have exceptional involvement and demonstrate excellent writing and self-reflection.
Application deadlines:
To receive an Honors admission decision prior to registration at Transfer Days, your application must be submitted by February 15.
To receive consideration for an Honors Transfer Scholarship, your application must be submitted by May 1. (Recipients will be notified by mid-June).
All other applications must be submitted by July 1.
Application deadlines:
To receive an Honors admission decision prior to registration at Transfer Days, your application must be submitted by September 15.
All other applications must be submitted by December 15.
The Honors Program will recognize up to 12 hours of transferred Honors credit from institutions that are formally affiliated with the National Collegiate Honors Council. Transferred Honors credit may be applied towards the fulfillment of Illinois State Honors designations provided that the credit appropriately satisfies the designation requirements. Transferred Honors credit may not be used to meet the Honors participation requirement.
Students who have been dropped from the Honors Program as a result of not meeting grade point average requirements are eligible to reapply after their cumulative GPA has surpassed the required 3.3 minimum. Students who are successfully readmitted typically have been out of the program for two or more semesters and have shown strong semester GPAs, leading to steady improvement of the cumulative GPA.
Students applying for readmission should follow the Current ISU Student process. The personal statement should discuss what the student has done since being dropped from the Honors Program that would enable them to be successful if readmitted. The statement may include changes to study habits, re-evaluating a major, or other changes to habits that may have been detrimental to the student’s previous enrollment in the program.
Students should specify in their application materials that they are applying for readmission.
*Please note: Students who have been dropped from the Honors Program as a result of not fulfilling the participation requirement are not eligible to reapply to the program.
Honors students who left Illinois State in good standing (in terms of GPA and Honors credit hours) and return to the university may request to regain their Honors status. This would include students who took time off to attend a community college or who are returning to complete a second bachelor’s degree. Students should submit a letter to the Honors Director discussing their departure from and return to Illinois State and formally requesting to regain their Honors status.
Requests should be received prior to the first day of classes in order to ensure time for review and, if readmitted, time for students to arrange Honors credit for the semester.
