The Honors College at the University of Oklahoma provides a supportive and challenging academic program for intellectually motivated undergraduate students. The Honors College offers an enriching interdisciplinary curriculum through its diverse programs and supports students in a full range of academic pursuits. Carefully designed small classes, a collegial environment, and close advising prepare students for advanced study leading to the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or any other bachelors degree offered at the University. Here, we seek to inspire students to a lifetime of broad intellectual curiosity and continuing self-sustained inquiry and personal growth. You can learn more about the Honors College by exploring our academic top five list.
The OU Honors College offers the best of both worlds: all the resources of a state-of-the-art research campus and the closeness of a small, private college. Due to our world-renowned faculty members and our students' shared commitment to academic excellence, there is an Ivy League education waiting for you at OU at the price of a public university. Honors students have access to unique research opportunities the moment they arrive on campus, Honors-only living spaces and programming, and Honors courses taught by top leaders in their desired fields.
For living spaces, Honors students have the option to select a room on an Honors student floor in one of the Residential Colleges on a first-come-first-served basis.
Outside of residential living, Cate 5 is completely dedicated to the Honors College. On the main floor, students will find the faculty offices and the Dean's office, a 24-hour student lounge, a private library for quiet study, professors accessible through office hours, and exclusive common areas. The Honors College Writing Center provides free one-on-one writing tutorial assistance for all Honors students. Writing Assistants are Honors students who have been trained to provide thoughtful feedback as they help other students achieve excellence in their writing skills. All students enrolled in the required introductory Honors course are assigned a Writing Assistant to work with throughout the semester.
Honors students can also reach their professional and personal goals by participating in the following Honors community programs:
The OU Honors College curriculum consists of 18 credit hours and the submission an Honors thesis. If an Honors student plans carefully with their academic advisor, most, if not all, Honors courses will count towards their general education requirement, ensuring they do not need to take unnecessary extra credit hours to earn Honors.
OU Honors College courses allow students to find a tight-knit intellectual community within OU. These courses provide our ambitious and academically-gifted students the opportunity to develop their intellectual potential through challenging classes, renowned research programs, and a social environment that celebrates academic excellence. Honors students will make connections with others from across majors, often leading to lifelong friendships and valuable professional connections post-graduation.
Honors core classes are capped between 19 to 22 students. Honors sections across campus also tend to be smaller than non-Honors classes. This small size ensures engagement with the content of the course and the opportunity to build close relationships with your classmates and professors.
As soon as you step foot on campus, you can participate in undergraduate research through the Honors College. Research opportunities include:
For research funding, Honors students can also compete for research grants of up to $1,000 per semester.
OU places great emphasis on global education. One of the many ways an Honors student can gain global experience while in college is through the Honors at Oxford study abroad program. Founded in 1998, Honors at Oxford allows students to live and study in the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The program is held at Brasenose College, founded in 1509 and one of 38 constituent colleges that make up Oxford. The four-week program typically occurs during July.
Beyond their courses taught by Honors faculty, students will be in walking distance of museums, ancient city streets, and beautiful architecture. Many students fill their weekends with croquet and trips to Paris, Edinburgh, and Dublin.
OU also offers study abroad opportunities to all students in over 200 cities and 80 countries across the world, and study abroad programs can last anywhere from two weeks to a full year.
The Honors College accepts applications from incoming freshmen, as well as both transfer students and current OU students who have earned 15+ credit hours with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.4. Admission is based on a combination of demonstrated academic success (GPA, test scores) and the ability to write a well-organized, college-appropriate essay.
The Honors College reviews applications year-round. Eligible incoming freshmen can apply after they are admitted to OU. The priority deadline is February 1. We recommend incoming students apply to the Honors College before May of their senior year to have ample time to enroll in Honors courses.
Applications may require up to 4 weeks for processing from the time of submission. Students who are not accepted but receive a deferral notice are eligible to apply again. All decisions will be sent by email.
NOTE: All students must be fully admitted to OU before their Honors College application will be processed.
Admitted to the University of Oklahoma
A high school GPA of at least a 3.75, or rank in the top 10% of graduating class
An ACT Composite of at least 30, or SAT Reading & Math of at least 1360
Self-reported scores and superscores are considered; verified test scores must be received by OU by June 30 and prior to course enrollment at New Sooner Orientation.
Completion of an essay responding to a prompt on the Honors College application
A holistic review process is used for other applicants with at least a 3.75 GPA who do not meet the minimum test scores listed above, including Test-Optional applicants. Test-optional applicants may be considered if they have pursued the most rigorous curricula possible, such as multiple AP, IB and/or concurrent enrollment/dual credit courses.
Students entering the University of Oklahoma from another university are eligible to apply with:
15+ credit hours earned with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4
And completion of an essay that responds to a prompt on our application
Students currently enrolled at the University of Oklahoma are eligible to apply with:
15+ credit hours earned with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4
And completion of an essay that responds to a prompt on our application
The Medical Humanities Scholars Program is a highly selective, sequential BA-MD program that prepares five to eight incoming high school seniors per year for a career in medicine through an enhanced pre-medical curriculum (Medical Humanities Minor) that includes extensive coursework in history, literature, fine arts, philosophy, ethics, sociology, anthropology, economics, spirituality, and politics as they relate to health, disease, and the practice of medicine. Students must be admitted to OU and apply to the Honors College by January 15 of their senior year to apply.
The Medical Humanities Scholars Program requires the submission of ACT or SAT scores. Test-optional applicants are not eligible to apply for this program.
A limited number of students (up to 25 per year) will be selected to join the Pre-Law Scholars Program (PLSP) before their enrollment as undergraduates at OU. The Pre-Law Scholars Program will allow these highly motivated Honors College students interested in the practice of law or judicial service to complete both a Bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor at the University of Oklahoma in six years. Students must be admitted to OU and apply to the Honors College and the Pre-Law Scholars program by February 1 of their senior year.
The Pre-Law Scholars Program requires the submission of ACT or SAT scores. Test-optional applicants are not eligible to apply for this program.
Any Honors-eligible (3.4 GPA or higher) student at the University of Oklahoma may minor in the medical humanities by completing 18 credit hours of coursework focused on a specific area within the medical humanities (history of medicine, bioethics, medical anthropology, literature, and medicine; cross cultural perspectives on health and disease, etc.), spoken foreign languages, and non-western cultural traditions.
Learn more about the Medical Humanities Minor
There are no additional costs associated with participating in the Honors College. Standard college tuition and fees are applied for students enrolled in any course at OU.
The OU Honors College curriculum consists of 18 credit hours and the submission of an Honors thesis. If a student plans carefully, most Honors courses can also count toward their General Education requirements, which means they do not have to take extra credit hours to earn Honors.
Honors College courses may require students to thoughtfully prepare in order to actively participate in class. Courses often include discussion-based curriculum to allow meaningful engagement with faculty and classmates. The goal of Honors College courses is to not burden students with a mountain of coursework, but to instead provide them with opportunities to engage and critically think.
National Merit Semifinalists, Finalists, and Scholars must apply for admission to the Honors College after being admitted to OU. No student is automatically guaranteed admission to the Honors College to ensure all students make the conscious decision to apply for the Honors College and possess strong intentions to complete the program.
Yes. Once students have earned 15 college credit hours and have at least a 3.4 college GPA, students can apply to the Honors College (or for the first time).
Those who successfully complete all Honors College requirments are eligible to graduate with Honors from OU and the Honors College designation will be listen on their final transcripts. During the commencement ceremony, Honors graduates wear a unique regalia item to signify their academic achievement and will their Honors designations will be listed in the commencement program.
The Honors Vision Scholarship is the only competitive/limited scholarship available to incoming students, there is no additional application available to be eligible. There are additional scholarships through the Honors College that students can apply for after completing their first year at OU.
The scholarship application for incoming freshman students applying to OU is also the OU admissions application. Students who apply to OU by our priority admissions deadline of December 15 and complete required supplemental essays are considered for all available incoming freshman scholarships. Students who are likely admissible to the Honors College may also be eligible for our academic merit-based scholarships. You can review all incoming freshman scholarships available.
No. Only students receiving particular scholarships are eligible for priority enrollment.
Scholarships that offer priority enrollment include:
Please note early enrollment for these scholarships begins with enrollment for the student’s second semester at OU. The first semester enrollment date is determined by the student’s New Sooner Orientation Day.
Admitted Honors students who have been admitted prior to May 1 will have access during housing room selection to select a room on a Honors Student-specific floor in one of the Residential Colleges. The floor is first come first serve during the selection process. You will find Honors students living in all residential communities on campus. There is also housing located in David L. Boren Hall, but it is not exclusive to Honors students.
No, priority for room selection is solely contingent upon when a student pays their enrollment deposit for OU.
You can learn more about the research, community, and academic programs that await you at OU's Honors College below.
