Honors College
Frequently asked questions.
Discover what makes the Honors College distinctive, from its academic curriculum, faculty mentorship, and formation opportunities to scholarships, housing, and student life. Explore the questions below, or contact the Honors College with additional questions.
About the Honors College
The Honors College at Ave Maria University is a highly selective academic community that combines the Catholic intellectual tradition with academic excellence. It serves high-achieving students from across the nation by providing rigorous Honors courses, close faculty mentorship, and opportunities for cultural, professional, and spiritual formation. Through a supportive community of scholars, Honors students pursue wisdom, form friendships, and are challenged to achieve their full potential.
The Honors College combines an exceptional, personalized education with an authentically Catholic mission. Students experience small seminar-style classes, a vibrant intellectual community, and opportunities to collaborate one-on-one with professors on undergraduate research. They also enjoy Honors Housing, study abroad opportunities, graduate school and career preparation, and an annual Honors Scholarship—all while remaining fully integrated into campus life and completing any major at the university.
The Honors College is home to more than 225 students representing every academic department at the university.
Honors courses are taught by accomplished professors who are dedicated to excellence in research and teaching. Honors faculty are active scholars and teachers who contribute to their fields through research and publications while also mentoring students through Honors courses, undergraduate research, and formation activities. Committed to imparting the Catholic intellectual tradition, Honors faculty help students pursue truth through interdisciplinary inquiry and the integration of faith and reason.
Honors seminars have between 10 and 25 students, depending on the class. Small seminar classes encourage meaningful conversations among students and close collaboration with faculty. Honors professors know students by name and support each student's academic and personal development.
Absolutely. Honors students are fully integrated into the university and immersed in campus life. They participate in the same liturgies, social events, clubs, student organizations, athletics, and academic departments as other students while also enjoying Honors-specific classes and programming.
Admission to the Honors College
Yes. Prospective students are welcome to visit an Honors class during a campus visit. To arrange a class visit, students should contact their Admissions Counselor before arrival. Class visits are subject to course availability and the instructor's approval.
Eligibility: Candidates must have a minimum unweighted high school cumulative GPA of 3.70 as well as a minimum 1360 SAT score or 30 ACT score or 92 CLT score. Students with a 1450+ SAT score, 32+ ACT score, or 100+ CLT score are especially encouraged to apply. We superscore the SAT, ACT, and CLT by combining the highest section scores across multiple test dates to calculate the highest composite score.
Required Materials: Eligible prospective Honors students must submit official documentation of their unweighted high school cumulative GPA as well as at least one SAT, ACT, or CLT score. Submit official transcripts and test scores through the university application portal.
Incoming freshmen who qualify for the Honors College should attend the Presidential Scholarship Weekend in January. The application for the Presidential Scholarship Weekend serves as the application for the Honors College. The application consists of an essay question and three short answer questions. If an eligible student is unable to attend the Presidential Scholarship Weekend, they may still apply to the Honors College here by March 15. Incoming freshmen should contact their Admissions Counselor if they have additional questions.
Transfer students should contact their Admissions Counselor, who can give them more information about the Honors College application. The deadline for admission to the Honors College for transfer students is March 15.
Current AMU students and dual-enrollment students should contact the Dean of the Honors College. Admissions decisions are on a rolling basis.
Yes. International students are welcome to apply to the Honors College and are considered through the same admissions process as other applicants. Honors students come from many countries around the world.
Yes. Current AMU students must have a minimum university cumulative GPA of 3.70 as well as a minimum 1360 SAT score or 30 ACT score or 92 CLT score. They must also have enough semesters left to be able to complete the Honors College curricular and colloquia requirements. Students interested in joining the Honors College are encouraged to apply toward the end of the fall semester of their freshman year, so they have sufficient time to complete the Honors curriculum and participate fully in Honors programming. Contact honors@avemaria.edu for more information.
Yes. Applicants who are not admitted may reapply in a subsequent year. Applicants are encouraged to highlight additional accomplishments and strengths when reapplying.
In most cases, no. Because the Honors curriculum begins in the first year, students who postpone joining the Honors College may miss Honors freshman orientation, early cohort experiences, and opportunities to complete Honors coursework on schedule. Students with exceptional circumstances should contact the Honors College to discuss their options.
Cost and Scholarships
No. There is no additional tuition or program fee for participation in the Honors College. Students in the Honors College also receive an annual Honors Scholarship to help defray the cost of university tuition. The Honors College provides these benefits through the generosity of its benefactors.
Yes. Honors students in good standing receive an annual Honors Scholarship. Questions about scholarship amounts or a student's overall financial aid package should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.
Honors Curriculum and Academics
Honors students complete at least seven Honors courses to graduate from the Honors College. These include two required courses—FRES 101H Gaudium in Veritate Honors and HONS 401 Honors Capstone—plus at least five additional Honors courses selected from the approved Honors curriculum in the humanities, history, philosophy, theology, politics, classical languages, and the natural sciences. For the complete list of Honors courses, see the Honors curriculum.
No. The Honors College complements a student's chosen major rather than replacing it with a separate degree. Students earn the bachelor's degree associated with their major(s), and successful completion of the Honors College requirements also earns them the Honors distinction.
Yes. The Honors curriculum is designed to enhance the university core curriculum and complement any major. Honors courses that count toward the Honors curriculum requirements also satisfy university core curriculum requirements. The only exception is HONS 401 Honors Capstone, which is taken in addition to the university core curriculum and major requirements.
No. Credit earned through the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme may be awarded university credit in accordance with university policy. However, AP and IB credit does not satisfy Honors College curriculum requirements.
Yes, in some cases. Certain transfer courses may satisfy Honors College curriculum requirements. Some courses are automatically accepted for Honors credit, while others require approval from the Dean of the Honors College in consultation with the appropriate department chair. HONS 401 Honors Capstone must be completed at Ave Maria University and cannot be satisfied through transfer credit. Transfer credit may satisfy university degree requirements even when it does not satisfy Honors College curriculum requirements. For a complete list of transferable Honors courses and approval requirements, see the Honors College transfer credit policy in the university academic catalog.
Yes. Honors courses are intentionally more rigorous than standard sections of the same course. Students engage with more challenging readings, more in-depth class discussions, and assignments that emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and other advanced work appropriate to the discipline. Rather than simply increasing workload, Honors courses are designed to foster deeper engagement with the material and higher expectations for academic achievement.
Honors students represent every academic department at the university. Approximately 26% major in STEM fields, 44% in the humanities, 15% in the social sciences, and 22% in pre-professional programs. Since some students pursue double majors, the percentages add to more than 100%.
Yes. Honors students major in engineering, STEM fields, pre-med, nursing, and many other disciplines. The Honors curriculum is designed to complement any major, and with careful academic planning, students in these programs can fully participate in the Honors College while completing their degree requirements.
Yes. Honors students may pursue double majors and minors. All majors and minors are available to Honors students. With appropriate academic planning, Honors students may complete double majors or minors without extending their time to graduation.
Yes. Many Honors students study abroad, and we also offer Honors classes on our campus in Ireland. Visit the university's study abroad page for more details. Because Honors requirements are integrated with degree requirements, students should work with their academic advisor early to incorporate study abroad into their overall academic plan.
Honors students complete HONS 401 Honors Capstone, a capstone seminar, rather than an undergraduate thesis required by the Honors College. Typically taken during the junior or senior year, the capstone explores deep questions about a life well lived through philosophy, theology, the sciences, the humanities, and each student's own academic discipline. Students also complete a final paper that integrates their Honors education with their major. While the Honors College does not require an undergraduate thesis, students whose departments offer this opportunity are encouraged to pursue it. Some departments also offer a departmental Honors thesis, which is strongly encouraged.
Life in the Honors College
Courses: The most important time commitment for students in the Honors College is attending their classes and studying. Honors students usually take the typical course load of four courses per semester. One or two of those courses per semester are usually Honors courses in their freshman and sophomore years, and Honors courses continue in their junior and senior years alongside courses in their major. Explore a sample four-year Honors curriculum to learn more.
Colloquia: Honors students also attend at least two colloquia per year. Each colloquium is about an hour and a half. The Honors College typically offers 4–6 colloquia per semester, so Honors students have many options.
Formation: There are also many optional but strongly encouraged formation activities for academic, cultural, spiritual, and professional growth.
Yes. Approximately 98% of Honors students are involved in at least one other substantive university program or group. Approximately 50% of our Honors students are Institute scholars, 25% participate in collegiate athletics, and 25% are members of faith-based community Households.
Honors Housing
Honors Housing is a dedicated residential community designed to support academic life while remaining fully integrated into the broader campus community. Each hall features Honors common rooms with special amenities. Men live on the fourth floor of the Mother Teresa Residence Hall, and women live on the fourth floor of the John Paul II Residence Hall. Both Honors residences are just steps from a Catholic chapel, and each Honors hall features views of the natural beauty of Southwest Florida. Each room is a four-person suite featuring two double-occupancy rooms connected by a private bathroom and shower. Each hall is fully air-conditioned and Wi-Fi enabled with a kitchenette and an on-site laundry room available at no additional cost.
Yes. Incoming Honors freshmen who apply to the Honors College by March 15 and are admitted to the Honors College are placed in Honors Housing. Incoming Honors freshmen who apply to the Honors College after March 15 may live in Honors Housing based on availability. In all cases, incoming students must submit their housing application form by the university deadline to be guaranteed housing. Visit Residence Life for more information.
Yes. All returning Honors students benefit from the option of early housing room selection for Honors Housing. Returning students must submit their housing application form to be guaranteed housing. Visit Residence Life for more information.
Yes. Honors students may request a roommate group of up to four Honors students. Incoming freshmen may submit their roommate request to residencelife@avemaria.edu. Returning Honors students may submit their roommate request during the early housing room selection process. For returning Honors students, priority will be given to requests for roommate groups of four returning Honors students in a room. Depending on availability, roommate groups of two or three Honors students may also be accommodated.
In some cases, we may consider requests to live with a friend who is not an Honors student either in Honors Housing or another residence hall. Any requests by incoming Honors students must be made by April 30 and are subject to availability. Requests should be sent to honors@avemaria.edu.
Yes. Options to commute or live off campus are available for those who qualify. Students seeking ADA housing accommodations should work directly with the Office of Residence Life. Visit Residence Life for more information.
Staying in the Honors College
Honors students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 at the end of each academic year and attend at least two colloquia per academic year. Students are also expected to make steady progress toward completing the Honors curriculum requirements.
Students who do not maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 at the end of an academic year or who do not attend at least two colloquia per academic year are normally placed on Honors College academic probation for one semester. During that semester, students can return to good standing by meeting the GPA and/or colloquia requirements. Students who successfully meet the requirements are removed from probation and remain in the Honors College. Students who do not meet the requirements by the end of the probationary semester may be removed from the Honors College. Students removed from the Honors College may, in some cases, appeal the decision or apply for reinstatement in accordance with Honors College policy in the university academic catalog.