Campus Admissions

Current Students

Admittance to the Honors College is by invitation only. The admission process begins in mid-January each spring semester and closes by early February.

At the beginning of each spring semester, the Honors College will target the top 10 percent of first-year, full-time students in each college (based on cumulative GPA at the end of the fall semester) and examine each student’s record for evidence of academic excellence. In addition, successful and sustained involvement in one of MSU’s key enrichment programs will also be taken into consideration as this participation indicates a student’s interest in personal growth and academic achievement. Invitations will be sent to students’ MSU email accounts through the Confidential Message System maintained by the Registrar’s Office.

The annual review process that occurs each spring semester will include all first-year students who have been at MSU for one calendar year or less.

The Honors College at MSU is designed as a four-year experience, and current students will only be reviewed for admission during their first year at MSU. Students who decline a membership invitation or who are not invited to membership as part of the annual review process will not be considered in future reviews.

Students who are not invited to Honors College membership may still enhance their educational experience through Honors Options in regular courses or by requesting an override into a specific Honors course/section (overrides are granted based on availability and a review of students’ overall academic progress and program). Students may also graduate from the university with honor (top 7-20 percent) or high honor (top 6 percent) designations by meeting cumulative GPA standards, regardless of Honors College membership.

If you are a current MSU student with questions about this process, please email the Honors College at chrisr@msu.edu.

Transfer Students

Admittance to the Honors College is by invitation only. All transfer students who have been at MSU for one calendar year or less are automatically included in the annual review process each spring semester, which targets the top 10 percent of first-year students in each college (based on cumulative GPA at the end of the fall semester) and examines each student’s record for evidence of academic excellence. Invitations will be sent to students’ MSU email accounts through the Confidential Message System maintained by the Registrar’s Office.

The MSU Honors College is designed as a four-year experience and membership is not available to students who will reach 41 credits by the end of the fall semester in which their record is reviewed.

Students who are not invited to Honors College membership may still enhance their educational experience through Honors Options in regular courses or by requesting an override into a specific Honors course/section (overrides are granted based on availability and a review of students’ overall academic progress and program). Students may also graduate from the university with honor or high honor designations by meeting cumulative GPA standards, regardless of Honors College membership.

If you are a potential transfer student with extenuating circumstances, please email the Honors College at chrisr@msu.edu.