Join the Honors Program

An Inclusive Community of High-Achieving Students

Outstanding students join the Honors Program from a wide variety of backgrounds and every major on campus. We welcomes about 250 new students to our community every year. Below, learn more about how Honors works, whether it might be a good fit for you, and how to get an invitation.

Admission Guidelines

Joining Honors is possible as an incoming first-year student, a current student, or a transfer student. 

Incoming First-Year Students

1.  Fall semester automatic invitations

Many first-semester students are invited to join Honors based on scores achieved on the ACT or SAT and their academic standing in high school. You’ll be invited to join Honors if you have:

• A 28 or higher ACT composite score (SAT 1300+) and high school class rank in the top 5%*
• A 29 or higher ACT composite score (SAT 1330+) and high school class rank in the top 10%*
• A 30 or higher ACT composite score (SAT 1360+) and high school class rank in the top 15%*
  _{*3.95 GPA if class rank is not available}

2.  Fall semester holistic invitations

Many first-semester students are considered for Honors admission through our award-winning holistic review process. About 40 percent of students invited to join the Honors Program at UWEC have been admitted holistically. Any student, including those who do not submit test scores, may request to be considered for invitation through the holistic process. If you do not meet the criteria for automatic Honors admission, or you are not submitting test scores, please contact us at honors@uwec.edu to request holistic review.

Current Students

1.  Spring semester automatic invitations

During the first week of January, we will send invitations to join the Honors Program to all first-year students who have a 26+ ACT score and 3.66+ GPA their first semester. This option does require that a test score is on file. Invited students work with Honors staff and advisors during January to incorporate Honors courses into their spring schedule.

2.  Accelerated petition for spring semester Honors admission (current first-year students)

We offer motivated first-year students an accelerated option to submit a petition with their mid-term grades. This option is appropriate for students without ACT scores and/or those who hope to enroll in Honors courses when they register for spring semester rather than changing their schedule later. For an accelerated petition, students need to submit a personal statement, a current degree audit, and a screenshot of their midterm grades to honors@uwec.edu by November 1 for a decision by November 15.

The personal statement must be 1200-2000 words and should address the student's academic interests and qualifications, why they are interested in the Honors Program, and how they would contribute to the Honors community.

3. Petition for Honors admission (2nd or 3rd-semester students)

Any interested student may submit a petition to participate in Honors starting their second or third semester. Students submitting outside of the window for an accelerated petition should send their personal statement (see instructions above) and current degree audit to honors@uwec.edu, as soon as they receive final grades for the current semester, no later than January 15 to join Honors for the spring semester and August 1 to join for the fall semester.

Transfer Students

Any transfer student interested in participating in Honors should contact us at honors@uwec.edu to discuss options. Students who transfer in good standing at another accredited university’s honors program or college will be welcome to continue their Honors education at UWEC. Any Honors credits earned will count toward UWEC’s Honors Program requirements.

Invited to Honors?

If you have received an invitation to participate in the University Honors Program, you can accept it by following the link in the email you received, or by emailing us at honors@uwec.edu. 

Honors First-Year Scholarship

The Honors Program comes at no extra cost to our students—and we also offer scholarships. All new first-year students who join the Honors Program in the fall semester receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship.