You seek to be part of Ball State’s most rigorous intellectual community. Congratulations! For many, the rewards of Honors College scholarship and fellowship prove transformative.
We’ve made applying a simple task. Please pay strict attention to all the requirements and deadlines addressed below.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Honors College is selective and based on academic achievement and potential. Honors applicants must meet the general university admission requirements as well as the Honors College requirements.
We encourage you to apply if you are:
- earning an Indiana Academic Honors Diploma, the Technical Honors Diploma or completing a comparable curriculum in another state in high school
- earning primarily As and Bs in high school
Other criteria for consideration include:
- grades in college preparatory courses during high school
- unusual strength of your high school curriculum, including the number of honors, advanced placement (AP), or international baccalaureate (IB) courses completed
- extracurricular activities and leadership experiences (academic and nonacademic)
- strong standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT)
- one or more letters of reference, preferably from teachers familiar with your potential for college academic work
Test Scores
We encourage you to take both the SAT and ACT (though either is acceptable) and to retake the tests if your scores are low or marginal (we will use your highest scores). Submission of test scores is highly recommended but not required.
How to Apply
You may apply for admission to the Honors College in one of the following ways, depending on whether you’ve already applied to Ball State:
In the online application for admission to Ball State, you will see the question “Do you wish to apply for admission to the Honors College?”
Select “Yes.”
Apply Now
If you’ve already applied for admission to the university, please email our admissions team and request a form. The form will be added to your online status portal where you can complete and submit it to be considered for admission to the Honors College
Email Us
Transfer and Current Students
- If you are a transfer student, the application process starts by submitting the online honors college application to the Office of Admissions.
- If you already attend Ball State, complete this form and email it directly to the Honors College.
Deadlines for Applications and Payment
The Honors College has a competitive, rolling admission review process. Students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. The following dates and deadlines are for students starting in the fall semester.
- Nov. 15 – Apply to meet the priority deadline for full consideration.
- April 15 – If you have not applied yet, we suggest you contact us directly to ensure a timely review.
- May 1 – Confirm your enrollment at Ball State.
Decision Notification
Our dean of the Honors College will notify you whether we’ve admitted you to our program about three weeks after we’ve received all your application materials.
In order to secure your place in the Honors College, you must confirm your enrollment at Ball State by May 3.
After you've been admitted, find out more about your
next steps.
Honors Scholarships
Honors College students compete for scholarships and fellowships designed exclusively for Honors College. A majority of Honors College students receive the substantial Presidential Scholarship or the Ball State Scholars Award. Many applicants receive additional aid from a basket of generous Honors College scholarships. See all of our scholarships.