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Honors College

BIG DREAMS? GO FOR HONORS

WHAT IS THE HONORS COLLEGE?

Honors College LogoThe 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

  • 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

    Health Science Programs

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

     

  • 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.

  • 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

Hear From Our Students

  • photo of Andrew H. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Marion University
  • photo of Jessica M. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Valparaiso University
  • photo of Kimberly M. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Indiana University Northwest
  • photo of Zorica A. | Honors College Grad who transferred to Loyola University Chicago
  • “...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

Learn more about the Honors College from our Dean, M. Beth Borst, Ed.D.