Honors College

WHAT IS THE HONORS COLLEGE?

Honors College Logo The Honors College at Ivy Tech is designed for motivated students who want a more in-depth and robust learning experience. It's a fully virtual academic program that allows you to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state.

Honors College coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. This experience is supported by Honors College faculty and courses that are designed to focus on dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking. Honors College graduates exemplify a high level of scholarship and are well-prepared to graduate and continue their education at a four-year college or university.

Two Honors Tracks

Students who successfully complete their Honors coursework can graduate with an Honors Diploma or Honors Certificate. The Honors Diploma is offered for 28 academic programs (see list) and the Honors Certificate can be earned by completing the Indiana College Core as part of our Start as a Sophomore transfer pathway to a 4-year school.

COMPARE Honors College tracks

Priority Application Deadlines

The Honors College accepts applications on a rolling basis, though it's best to apply early and by the priority deadlines to have the most class options.

See priority Application deadlines

Proud to Report

82% of Honors College Students Return to the Program After Their First Semester

62% of Honors College Students Accepted to Private 4-Year Colleges and Universities

94% of Honors College Students Feel Their Honors Advisors Help Them Grow as Students

Unique Benefits Of the Honors College

Specialized Curriculum – Course topics vary from semester to semester, but all focus on dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking.
Fully Virtual Program – Honors courses are virtual (via Zoom) so students who attend any of our 45 locations can participate. Join classes from anywhere you have internet access.
Small, Close-Knit Community – Class sizes are small and cohorted, so you can build a support system among other Honors students.
Personalized Advising & Support – Students receive extra support and may participate in programming from the Honors College.
Transfer and Career Success – To support our students, the Honors College offers Transfer and Career & Professional Development Seminars. This approach pays off, as Honors College students have been accepted to more than 60 top U.S. universities.

Honors College Details

Am I Eligible?
Eligibility

The following students are good candidates for the Honors College:
- Students with fewer than 30 college credits total (whether at Ivy Tech or another college) and a strong GPA (3.2+ average).
- Students pursuing a transfer degree in a non-health program and/or students pursuing the Indiana College Core
- Current high school students in our Dual Enrollment Program
Health Science Programs

The Honors College is currently unavailable to students enrolled in health science programs.

Which Honors Track is Right for You?

Students admitted into the Honors College work toward completing an Honors Diploma and/or the Indiana College Core certificate as part of our Start as a Sophomore transfer pathway (the Indiana College Core consists of a block of 30 credit hours that are guaranteed to transfer to another Indiana public college or university).

Once admitted into the program, your Honors Advisor will discuss all options with you to plan your pathway at Ivy Tech.

Honors Tracks:

	Honors Diploma	HONORS CERTIFICATE Indiana College Core Start As a Sophomore Credential
Credit Hours	24 honors credit hours	12 honors credit hours (as part of the 30-credit hour Indiana College Core curriculum)
GPA	3.25 Cumulative GPA	3.0 Cumulative GPA
Required Courses	IVYT 171H or other IVYT Course	Not required
Honors Transfer Seminar	Yes	Not required but available
Honors Career & Leadership Development	Yes	Not required but available
Travel/Multicultural Experience*	Yes	Not required but available
	+ Completion of all Ivy Tech degree requirements	+ Completion of all Indiana College Core requirements

*Examples: HUMA 250 OR other Study Abroad OR Global Studies Certificate OR Global Workforce Skills Certificate OR other approved experience.

Questions?

Register for a virtual Honors College information session or reach out to the Honors College at honorscollege@ivytech.edu.

Interested in Applying?

APPLY TO THE HONORS COLLEGE

Academic Programs Offering Honors
Honors Certificate

Students can earn the Honors Indiana College Core long-term certificate (called a technical certificate) as part of our Start as a Sophomore transfer pathway to a 4-year school. The Honors Indiana College Core technical certificate is offered at 29 Ivy Tech locations (every location the Indiana College Core is offered).

Honors Associate Degrees

Students can earn an Honors associate degree, called an Honors Diploma, in 28 academic programs. See the list below. Each Ivy Tech location, including IvyOnline, offers a unique combination of honors certificate and degree options, so be sure to contact your advisor before applying to the Honors College to make sure your desired academic program and credential are available at your campus.

Universities Who Accept Our Alumni

Honors Transfer Agreements

We have created unique transfer opportunities specifically for Ivy Tech's Honors College students. Some of the agreements include:

Ball State University Honors College
Manchester – PharmD Program
Earlham Honors College
IUPUI Honors Liberal Arts Program

Students Have Been Accepted at More than 60 Top Universities

Ivy Tech honors students have been accepted at more than 60 top universities all around Indiana and across the U.S. to pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Ivy Tech alumni have been accepted to the following universities:

A – H

I – S

T – Z

Allegheny College

American University

Amherst College

Anderson University

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Ball State University

Ball State University Honors College

Baylor University

Belmont University

Bridgewater University

Butler University

Calumet College of St. Joseph

Central Washington University

Clark Atlanta

Colorado State University

Columbia College Chicago

Columbia University Master Program

Concordia University Chicago

Cornell College

Denison University

DePaul University - Chicago

DePauw University

Duke University

Earlham College

Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Kentucky University

Emory University

Flagler College

Florida International University

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Georgia State University

Gonzaga University

Goshen College

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Hanover College

Harvard University Business School

Harvard University MBA Program

High Point University

Holy Cross College

Illinois Institute of Technology

Indiana State University

IUI

IU Fort Wayne

Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana University - East

Indiana University - Northeast

Indiana Wesleyan University

Lewis and Clark College

Liberty University

Lindenwood University

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Manchester University

Marian University

Medaille College

Miami University

Middlebury College

Mount Holyoke College

Ohio State University

Olivet Nazarene University

Oregon State University

Purdue Global

Purdue University - Northwest

Purdue University - West Lafayette

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Smith College

Southern Oregon University

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College

Stanford University

SUNY - Buffalo

Texas Christian University

Trine University

Tulane University

Union College

University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Central Florida

University of Colorado

University of Evansville

University of Georgia

University of Illinois-Urbana

University of Indianapolis

University of Iowa

University of Massachusetts

University of Michigan - Dearborn

University of Missouri - St. Louis

University of Nevada - Las Vegas

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Puget Sound

University of Rochester

University of Saint Francis

University of Southern California

University of the Virgin Islands

University of Washington

Valparaiso University

Vanderbilt University

Wabash College

Washington State University

Wellesley College

West Virginia University

Western Michigan University

Whittier College

Cost
Tuition & Fees

The Honors College follows Ivy Tech's standard tuition model with a program fee applied.

In-State students can expect to pay the following tuition:
- Part-time (<12 credit hours)
  $178.38 per credit hour
- Full-time (12+ credit hours)
  $2,577.11 flat fee per semester
In addition to tuition, Honors students will be assessed a fee as follows:
- Fall and Spring Semesters
  Full-time students: $900 per semester
  Part-time and Courses-Only students: $750 per semester
- Summer Semester
  The Honors fee is waived
To see more information about Ivy Tech tuition and fees, click here, or attend an information session.
NEW Presidential Honors College Scholarship
Presidential Honors College Scholarship

New students who apply to and are accepted into the Ivy Tech Honors College may apply for the Presidential Honors College Scholarship.

This scholarship provides substantial assistance ($3,000 per year, renewable up to 2 years) for new Honors College students who demonstrate financial need and exceptional potential. This award will be available to students starting in the Honors College Fall 2023.

This application requires the following:
- Must be a new, full-time Ivy Tech student
- Must have graduated from high school within the past two years with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (will be asked to provide this information)
- Must be accepted into the Honors College and remain in good standing (you will be prompted to upload your acceptance letter which is emailed to your Ivy Tech email)
- Must submit ACT, SAT, and/or Knowledge Assessment scores
- Must submit one letter of recommendation from a high school teacher, guidance counselor, or work supervisor
- Must submit a written essay (500-word minimum) or creative presentation (e.g., Powtoon, Vimeo) where you share your Big Goals and how you feel the Honors College can help you reach them
- Must submit the FAFSA form (does not have to be complete to apply for the scholarship)
- Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
Deadline: Applications are due by Sunday, June 30, 2024. Students are applying for the Fall 2024 semester.

Apply

How to Apply

How to Apply to the Honors College
How to Apply

Interested in joining the Honors College at Ivy Tech? Follow these steps to get started:
1. Apply to Ivy Tech using our online application and complete all required admissions steps.
2. Apply to the Honors College using our brief online Honors College Application.
  Please note, you may be required to take Ivy Tech's at-home, self-paced exam, Knowledge Assessment, if no SAT or ACT test scores are on file with Ivy Tech.
3. You will be notified of your application status via your Ivy Tech email usually within two weeks. If accepted to the Honors College, you will be asked to sign the Intent to Enroll Form (ITE).
4. Next, your personal Honors Advisor will contact you to begin the Honors College journey.
Questions?

If you need help, please email us at honorscollege@ivytech.edu.

APPLY TO THE HONORS COLLEGE
Priority Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines

The Honors College accepts applications on a rolling basis though there are priority admissions deadlines for each 8-week semester. It is always best to apply early and by the priority deadlines so that you have more class options available to choose from.

We will begin accepting applications outlined below:

Spring 2025 1st 8-Week Term:
- Priority 1 application deadline: November 24
- Priority 2 application deadline: December 22
Spring 2025 2nd 8-Week Term:
- Priority 1 application deadline: January 26
- Priority 2 application deadline: February 23
APPLY TO THE HONORS COLLEGE
Information Sessions

Need more information about the Honors College? Attend one of our virtual information sessions:

Wednesdays
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Eastern
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Central Register Now

Hear From Our Students

“...there is no doubt that my capacity to find, report on, and address errors for a $20+ Million revenue company was due to the Honors Colleges' curriculum and professors. This letter is certainly a testament to the potential the Honors College brings out of its students.”

–Andrew H. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Marion University
“Being in the Honors College has been my favorite part of my college career so far! I love how the courses are engaging and oftentimes lead by open discussions and bouncing thoughts and ideas off of each other. All of the Honors faculty have been incredibly helpful in leading me down the path of success and transfer preparedness. Overall, my time spent in the Ivy Tech Honors College has been gratifying, and I feel like a much better student because of it!”

–Jessica M. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Valparaiso University
“To be frank, I prefer the Honors College- the level of understanding and retention I’ve been capable of recently contributes to my success immensely. The Honors College provides outlets of support, encouragement and connections in many ways. The faculty members in the program inspire higher-level reasoning and want to see each student succeed!”

–Kimberly M. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Indiana University Northwest
“Throughout my time at Ivy Tech Community College, I had a great support system that helped me achieve my educational goals. The Honors courses challenged my way of thinking, which helped me discover new strengths that I carried within myself. I am extremely thankful for the faculty and staff that I have met throughout my time in the Ivy Tech Honors College because they made my experience at Ivy Tech even greater. I would not be where I am today without the support that I received through Honors College and I am forever thankful for this amazing experience! ”

–Zorica A. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Loyola University Chicago

Why Consider the Honors College?

Honors College students benefit from taking honors-level courses as they complete their associate degree and prepare for transfer to a four-year college or university. Many of our 1,200+ Honors College alumni (since the program's founding in 2011) agree that graduating with honors can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.

Our Philosophy of Inclusion

The Ivy Tech Honors College creates programs and builds teams that respect differences and provide opportunities for growth and excellence. The Honors College respects all human beings, believes everyone can learn and excel, and remains committed to serving diverse student populations across Indiana.

PROGRAM AFFILIATIONs

The Honors College at Ivy Tech is a member of The Mid-East Honors Council (MEHA), an organization of two- and four-year schools in Southern Michigan, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, West Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio. MEHA provides honors students opportunities to network and interact with other students, faculty, and administrators at honors programs throughout the Mid-East region. Learn more about MEHA

Further, the Honors College is a part of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), supporting and benefitting from the council's mission to support and enhance the community of educational institutions, professionals, and students who participate in collegiate honors education around the world. Learn more about NCHC