Being the first in your family to attend college is a huge achievement, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Explore OU's First-Generation Roadmap for a year-by-year guide on what to focus on and the resources available to help you succeed.
The University of Oklahoma Honors College has a long tradition of academic excellence, bringing students together from across the country and across the world to build an interdisciplinary community of achievers within a large research university. In small classes and in a wide range of activities, you will get to know your professors and other students, creating a network of support and inspiration. The Honors College aims to prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and personal growth, while developing skills that are useful in a range of careers.
February 23, 2026
Registration is now open for the 2026 Undergraduate Research Day! Students from any and all colleges and degree programs are invited to present their research, creative, and scholarly work at this campus-wide celebration of undergraduate achievement. Undergraduate Research Day highlights the impressive breadth of work happening across OU, and all are welcome to attend to explore presentations, posters, and performances showcasing student research from across disciplines.
February 23, 2026
The Freshman Trip is an annual backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico. Incoming freshman or newly transferred students who have been accepted into the Honors College can sign up. The trip lasts 6 days, including travel days from Norman, and is led by other OU students who have completed their Guide Training. We try to make our trips as accommodating to various skill levels as possible, and OA is a great introduction to backpacking.
March 10, 2026
The Honors College Living-Learning Community provides a living-learning community on two floors of Dunham College, exclusively for Honors College students with special Honors College RAs, mentors, and programming. Incoming freshmen can sign up through their housing selection form. For more information, email Madison Lowry, Student Life Coordinator, at madisonlowry@ou.edu.
The Honors College manages a range of research programs to assist students in jump-starting their career. Students can get funding to assist faculty on their research or to pursue their own research project.
The Honors College hosts two medical humanities programs, including a BA-MD track and a medical humanities minor. The college can prepare you for a successful career in healthcare by guiding you through interdisciplinary coursework.
The Honors at Oxford study abroad program offers students the opportunity to live and study in Brasenose College at Oxford University. OU professors incorporate local sites and culture into Honors at Oxford classes.
The program offers generous scholarship support for students to take classes with professors who incorporate local sites and culture.
The Pre-Law Scholars Program is a three-year accelerated Bachelors-Juris Doctor. The program provides financial support for LSAT preparation while guiding students to achieve their goals through mentoring and special events.
Pursue support for your OU studies, study abroad, travel to professional conferences, and nationally competitive awards.
Honors College offers many opportunities including connecting students to informal reading groups and student organizational opportunities.
The Honors College reviews applications year-round. Eligible incoming first-year students can apply after they are admitted to OU. We recommend incoming students apply to the Honors College before May of their high-school senior year to have ample time to enroll in Honors courses.
Current OU students who have earned at least 15 credit hours with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.4. Admission is based on a combination of demonstrated academic success and the ability to write a well-organized, college-appropriate essay.
Students entering the University of Oklahoma from another university are eligible to apply with at least 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 University of Oklahoma Honors College hosted its 38th annual Undergraduate Research Day on April 16 in the Thurman J. White Forum Building. Over 300 people attended, and 175 students presented their posters and projects to visitors, faculty members, judges and peers.
Aaron Lim, a third-year student pursuing a chemical biosciences degree, is one of just a few hundred students nationwide to receive a 2026 Goldwater Scholarship, presented to undergraduates pursuing careers in science, engineering and mathematics.
A new University of Oklahoma course is challenging traditional ideas of the American West by centering diverse voices and lived experiences, blending classroom learning with real-world academic engagement.
I think I’ve developed my resumé for that exact reason: growth. Through each class, volunteer activity, and professional experience, I believe I have become a more well-rounded student and person.
Megan Benner,
a University of Oklahoma Honors College health care business student and Pre-Law Scholar
