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We’re glad that you’re considering the University of Arkansas Honors College!
As a member of our community of outstanding students and professors you will take challenging courses and pursue original research and creative endeavors, both on campus and around the world.
With these opportunities come responsibilities.
Students who join the Honors College commit themselves to completing the honors requirements in their major and graduating with honors. Before deciding if the Honors College is right for you, please review the honors program graduation requirements.
New Freshman Students
Are you a high school senior? Now is a great time to apply to the Honors College! Once you've been admitted, you can sign up for honors orientation sessions and enjoy all the benefits we offer from day one on campus. Honors admits will also be eligible to live in honors freshman housing, including Hotz Honors Hall.
Questions? Contact Us
Contact honors@uark.edu for assistance.
View application process
Current & Transfer Students
Just learned about us? If you’re a freshman or sophomore on campus, it’s not too late to apply to participate in the honors experience. As an honors student, you can sign up for honors seminars, benefit from advance registration and compete for the more than $1 million in grants that we award each year.
Questions? Contact Us
Contact honors@uark.edu for assistance.
View application process
New Freshman Students
- 1 Step 1: Apply to UA and Receive Notification of Admission to the University
Students must apply for admission to the University of Arkansas and receive official notification of acceptance to the university before applying to the Honors College.
- 2 Step 2: Apply to the Honors College
Please click on the links below to learn more about the application process for each option.
Students must have at least a 28 ACT composite score on one exam (1310 SAT equivalent) AND the minimum high school GPA of 3.85.
Students who meet the Option #1 requirements will be invited to apply through their New Student Center after they have been admitted to the University of Arkansas. Students who complete the Option #1 application on their New Student Center will be automatically admitted to the Honors College.
Priority Application Deadline - December 15
Final Application Deadline - May 15
Students who have at least a 3.90 high school GPA but do not have the necessary ACT/SAT score for automatic admission will be invited to complete an application during their senior year. Students who qualify for the Option #2 application will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to complete the application soon after they are admitted to the University of Arkansas.
The Honors College will review the application and inform applicants whether or not they have been admitted to honors in late February of their senior year.
Components of Option #2 Application
1) Essay - Write a well-developed essay (600 words maximum) responding to the following prompt: Why do you want to become a student in the University of Arkansas Honors College? What do you feel you would be able to contribute to the honors community?
2) Academic Resume - Applicants will upload a copy of their academic resume to the application. Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. For tips on how to prepare an academic resume, please visit the university's Academic Scholarship website.
Priority Application Deadline - December 15
Final Application Deadline - February 1
What's Next?
Frequently Asked Questions for New Freshman Applicants
The priority deadline to apply to the Honors College is December 15 of your senior year. Students who apply by this deadline and are subsequently admitted to the Honors College will participate in priority housing selection in the spring. Students will also need to complete a housing contract before priority honors housing selection begins in the spring.
If you apply to the Honors College after December 15, you will still be eligible to live in Hotz Honors Hall your freshman year of college, provided there are rooms available when it is your turn to select housing.
Yes, the Honors College application is separate from the fellowship application. If you are applying for endowed fellowships, you will also need to complete the Honors College application for official admission into the program.
No, we only consider a student's highest composite score from one exam. This applies to both the ACT and the SAT.
Note: We do require official test scores, so please make sure to send ACT and/or SAT score reports to the University of Arkansas.
No, the Honors College will consider the transcripts and test scores that you submitted to the undergraduate admissions office when you originally applied to the University of Arkansas. You do not need to submit additional transcripts or test scores to the Honors College.
All Honors College admission decisions are posted in your New Student Center. You will receive an email once your admission decision is posted.
For admissions decisions, the Honors College is looking at a weighted GPA. Please note, however, that the University of Arkansas evaluates applicants' GPAs using a 4.00 scale that only weights AP, IB, and clearly indicated concurrent/dual enrollment courses with one extra grade point. GPAs from schools that include additional weight, weighted honors, or weighted pre-AP courses may be recalculated. If you have questions, you can contact the admissions office at 479-575-5346 or uofa@uark.edu.
After applying for admission to the University of Arkansas, the application for new freshman fellowships and scholarships will appear in your New Student Center within two business days.
Generally, honors students are expected to maintain at least a 3.50 UA GPA as a full-time, degree-seeking student at the University of Arkansas. The one exception is the Walton College of Business, which requires honors students to maintain at least a 3.75 UA GPA.
If you have not done so already, please review the honors program requirements in your college to learn more about the academic expectations.
Yes, you can still apply as a current student at the University of Arkansas. When you complete this application, admission will be based upon your UA GPA and credit hours attained.
Admission to Walton Honors is contingent upon a student being qualified to take MATH 20503 Finite Mathematics in their first semester at the university. To place into MATH 20503, a student must have achieved at least one of the following prior to the beginning of college: 1) A score of at least 26 on the math portion of the ACT, 2) A score of at least 620 on the math portion of the SAT, or 3) A score of at least 60 on the Math placement test.
Students can also test out of MATH 20503 based on earned math credit through AP, IB, or a dual enrollment course. Please contact the Walton Honors Office if you have any questions regarding math placement.
Other questions about applying? Contact us.
Current & Transfer Students
Here's how to apply if you are a Current UA Student or a Transfer Student:
- Review the honors program graduation requirements in your college.
- Visit your academic college's honors program page to find the link to their honors application along with admission requirements. Links to all honors program pages can be found on the Honors Program Directors page.
- If eligible, the honors program director or assistant honors program director in your college will admit you. You will receive an email from the Honors College with the decision. Please note that decision time varies by honors program.
Questions about applying? Contact your honors program director.
Not sure which honors program is associated with your major? Contact honors@uark.edu for assistance