Enrolled Clemson Students
The Honors College welcomes applications to the Clemson University Honors College from students currently enrolled at Clemson who are not members of the Honors College.
Applications are accepted during both the Fall and Spring semesters. To be eligible for admission, current students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher by the end of the semester in which they apply.
Register for an Information Session
Join one of our information sessions to hear more about being an Honors student and ask any questions you may have about applying, which distinction to pursue, and more.
Register for Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 2-3 p.m.
Register for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 1-2 p.m.
Register for Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
When To Apply
Fall 2026 Enrollment
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Application opens |
| March 2 | Application deadline |
| March 27 | Provisional decisions released |
| April 20 | Round 2 application deadline (Departmental Honors only) |
| May 8 | Final decisions released |
Spring 2027 Enrollment (Tentative)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 1 | Application opens |
| October 5 | Application deadline |
| October 23 | Provisional decisions released |
| November 30 | Round 2 application deadline (Departmental Honors only) |
| December 18 | Final decisions released |
General Honors applicants must apply by the deadline. Late applications will not be considered for General Honors.
Students submitting a General Honors application or a Departmental Honors Round 1 application by the deadline will receive their provisional student notification prior to the start of registration for the next term.
Accepted students who have a class conflict or other University-excused absence that conflicts with the mandatory orientation meeting will be provided an alternate meeting option.
General Honors
The main purpose of General Honors is to broaden the student’s intellectual perspectives. Students are encouraged to take Honors courses in many different areas of study.
Typically, students take most of their General Honors courses during their first and sophomore years.
For more information please visit the General Honors web page.
Departmental Honors
The purpose of Departmental Honors is to provide students a unique opportunity to do an advanced, in-depth study or project, thesis research, or a combination, within an academic discipline.
Departmental Honors is typically completed during your junior and/or senior years, depending on the requirements set by the department.
For more information, please visit the Departmental Honors page.
How to Apply
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Step 1. Determine Your Distinction
Review the General Honors and Departmental Honors sites to determine your Honors distinction. You can also attend our information sessions listed above.
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Step 2. Pick Your Proposed Honors Courses
Review the Honors College Student Handbook to determine your proposed Honors Courses of study.
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Step 3. Complete the Enrolled Honors Student Application
The Honors college application consists of:
- Proposed Honors courses
- An involvement and activities section
- One essay
Successful applicants show clear evidence of intellectual engagement and vision, as well as community engagement and leadership through their high school activities, application essays, and other application materials. To be considered, please take great care in producing a thoughtful and well-written application.
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Step 4. Obtain Faculty Approval (Departmental Honors Applicants Only)
Normally, students achieve Departmental Honors in the academic discipline of their major. However, permission may be granted for Departmental Honors to be earned in an area of study other than that of the student's major.
It is required that applicants independently contact the academic department in which you wish to pursue Departmental Honors to discuss possible opportunities and an appropriate proposed faculty mentor before you submit your Honors application. You will be asked to identify your academic department contact within the Departmental Honors application. If you cannot find an academic department contact for your program, please email the Honors Advising team.
Students who are accepted for membership in the Honors College to pursue Departmental Honors are admitted at the discretion of the academic department.
For more information, please visit the Departmental Honors page.
Note: Students that enroll as continuing students pursuing General Honors are welcome to begin Departmental Honors at the appropriate time at the discretion of their academic department – no extra application to the Honors College is needed. Keep in mind that some academic departments have an internal application process for Honors students wanting to pursue Departmental Honors.
If you have identified your departmental contact, check with them to see if this applies for the Departmental Honors program you are interested in pursuing.
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Step 5. Monitor Your Admissions Portal
Watch your email and admissions portal for ongoing updates about your Honors application. You can also update your admissions portal to connect to your Clemson email address instead of the email address you used when applying to Clemson University Undergraduate Admissions.
