Honors College Eligibility Requirements

Full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for admission to the Honors College per the following policies:

Membership requirements

Honors College membership is offered by invitation to:

  1.  All first-time new in college students who are offered the Board of Governors Scholarship
  2.  All first-time new in college students who have an ACT composite score of 27 or higher (or an SAT composite score of 1280 or higher) and who have graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class or have a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.90 or higher.

Priority is given to candidates who accept their formal invitation by April 1st. Candidates may be admitted after April 1st on a space-available basis.

Once invitations are issued, students must accept their invitations in order to secure their spot. Our traditional invitation cycle is November to April.

International Baccalaureate Diploma recipients are also eligible for membership. Students must provide the Honors College with a copy of the official diploma after successful completion of the program.

Students admitted to the Honors College will be assigned to either the General Honors Program or the Accelerated Honors Program, based upon college-level course work completed prior to entry:

  • Students who enter the Honors College with fewer than 30 completed credit hours will be admitted to the General Honors Program;
  • Students who enter the Honors College with 30 or more completed credit hours will be admitted to the Accelerated Honors Program.

Application alternative

Students who do not satisfy the automatic eligibility requirements may apply for admission to the Honors College after completing at least one semester at the University. Applicants must submit a completed application form, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, and a recommendation letter from an MSU faculty member. Applications for admission will be reviewed in January and July and qualified candidates will be offered admission on a space available basis. Students are encouraged to apply prior to their fourth semester at the University. Students admitted to the Honors College will be assigned to either the General Honors Program or the Accelerated Honors Program, based upon college-level course work completed prior to entry.

Transfer students

Transfer students may apply for admission to the Honors College following admission to the University. Applicants must submit a completed application form, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, and a recommendation letter from a faculty instructor.  Applications for admission will be reviewed in January and July and qualified candidates will be offered admission on a space available basis. Students who have completed course work in honors programs/colleges may be able to apply previous honors course work towards Honors College requirements. Transfer students admitted to the Honors College will be assigned to the Accelerated Honors Program, unless they have completed fewer than 30 credit hours, in which case they will be assigned to the General Honors Program.

International students

International students who did not receive a diploma from a United States high school may be admitted to the Honors College if they satisfy the following criteria:

  1. TOEFL IBT score of 100 or higher or IELTS score of 7.0 or higher;
  2. Completion of at least one of the following options:
    • ACT composite score of 27 or higher or SAT combined score of 1280 or higher;
    • Successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
    • British A-Levels course work: C average or higher (two course minimum);
    • British AS-Levels course work: C average or higher (four course minimum);
    • French Baccalaureate: overall average of 10 or higher;
    • Score of 100 or higher on the English portion of China’s National College Entrance Exam;
    • Completion of 12 or more credits at an American college/university with a 3.00 or higher GPA.

Students who are exempt from completing the TOEFL or IELTS exams and/or who did not have the opportunity to enroll in the academic programs outlined in point two may contact the Director of the Honors College and request a formal review of their academic qualifications.

International students who completed a diploma at a United States high school will be admitted under the guidelines outlined in Admissions Section A (see above).

Admission resources