By Dave Best, Galin Education College Counselor
So you are searching for your best-fit college and are building your wish list. You zero in on colleges with small classes, great professors, special residential living communities, big school spirit and a relatively low sticker price. Can you really have it all? You can if you target an Honors College at a public university.
Some would call this the best of both worlds. The University of Maryland describes its Honors College as follows: “Small College Atmosphere. Large Research Institution Advantages. The Honors College combines the best of two educational options: the sophisticated academic offerings and friendly residential environment of a small liberal arts college nestled within the rich, diverse, boundless opportunities of a big research institution with the extra perks of the dynamite Terp spirit.”
Admission to an Honors College is often either based on a holistic review of a candidate’s college application or meeting a minimum high school GPA and standardized test score. An Honors College is typically designed to be a student’s academic home and to plug them into an instant group of high-achieving friends. Their mission is to provide a personalized education experience for its students.
Often they can be an oasis within a large campus with special interdisciplinary courses taught by the best faculty. Some programs even require capstone projects and undergraduate research. Honors College students can select any major at the university.
Even for out of state students, these Honors Colleges typically charge $10,000-25,000 less than highly selective private universities, with merit and financial aid also available.
Here are five excellent Honors Colleges at Public Universities around the country:
1. East:
University of Maryland
Honors Invitation: comprehensive
OOS Sticker Price: $47,606
Merit Scholarships: Banneker / Key Scholars
Deadline: November 1
2.South:
University of Alabama
Honors Invitation: minimum GPA 3.5 + test score of 28 ACT / 1250/1310 old/new SAT
OOS Sticker Price: Tuition/Fees $27,750 + Room/Board $13,050 = $40,800
Merit Scholarships: Presidential Scholar, UA Scholar
Deadline: February 1 but 12/15 for Merit per above
3. Midwest:
Indiana University
Honors Invitation: matrix of grades or rank and test score
OOS Sticker Price: $48,666
Merit Scholarships: separate application
Deadline: November 1
4. Southwest:
Arizona State
Honors Invitation: comprehensive
OOS Sticker Price: Tuition/Fee $29,020 + Room/Board $14,100 = $43,300
Merit Scholarships: New American University Scholar
Deadline: Early Action I & II, Regular Decision
5, West:
University of Oregon
Honors Invitation: comprehensive
OOS Sticker Price: Tuition / fees $35,856 + Room/Board $17,581 = $53,437
Merit Scholarships: Automatic based on grades / test scores
Deadline: Early Action & Regular Decision
