Prospective Student FAQs

Question Menu:

1. If I don't meet the eligibility requirements as an incoming student, can I join honors later?

2. Is it more expensive to be in the Honors College?

3. Are honors courses harder than other college courses?

4. If I decide not to continue with honors, will I be penalized?

5. Am I required to live in honors housing?

6. How does enrollment work?

7. Will honors negatively impact my GPA?

8. Can I earn honors credit for extracurricular activities?

9. Will all of my classes be honors?

10. What are the benefits of being in the Honors College?

11. Is pursuing Honors still feasible if I have already completed a lot of college credits?

12. What is the GPA requirement to stay in the Honors College?

Q. If I don't meet the eligibility requirements as an incoming student, can I join honors later?

A. Yes, absolutely. We encourage high school students who are a little shy of meeting our requirements to apply anyway. Many students will be extended the opportunity to complete a petition for admission into the Honors College.

Current OSU students or transfer students can join at any point during their academic career so long as they meet the GPA requirement. However, the later a student begins honors, the more difficult it may be to attain the various awards the Honors College offers.

Some transfer students may be able to transfer honors credit earned at their previous institution. Contact us for more information.

Q. Is it more expensive to be in the Honors College?

A. Not at all. Tuition rates at OSU are the same for all undergraduate students and there are no additional fees associated with participation in the Honors College. Additionally, there are actually scholarships available exclusively to members of the Honors College.

Q. Are honors courses harder than other college courses?

A. Honors courses are not designed to be any more difficult or time-consuming than their non-honors counterparts. They are taught by OSU's top teaching faculty who commonly use unique and innovative approaches to course material. The smaller class sizes also allow faculty to employ different strategies for monitoring student learning. The honors classes tend to be more discussion-based than their larger counterparts who, out of necessity, more often use passive learning in the classroom.

Q. If I decide not to continue with honors, will I be penalized?

A. No. Students can become inactive and choose to become active again later if they wish. All honors courses completed will be designated on the student's transcript. It's important to note though that the special honors perks are reserved for active honors students and inactivity will make it more difficult to complete the various awards offered by the Honors College. Students who wish to withdraw from honors simply need to tell their advisor.

Q. Am I required to live in honors housing?

A. Honors students are not required to live in honors housing although a great many of them choose to do so. We reach capacity rather quickly after the housing application opens but spots will periodically become available. Our living residences, Stout Hall and West Bennett, are quite active with optional student programming. To learn more about honors housing, click here.

Q. How does enrollment work?

A. Honors students will meet with their major academic advisor prior to meeting with their honors academic advisor. The major advisor will ensure that students are steadily progressing toward degree completion by recommending a number of suitable courses. It is the responsibility of the honors advisor to inform students how to make honors courses fit with the academic schedule recommended by their major advisor. This way, students can complete both their degree requirements and the requirements for various honors awards in a timely fashion.

Q. Will honors negatively impact my GPA?

A. For the vast majority of students, no. Research on this topic has indicated that honors students and non-honors students of similar ability report near equivalent GPAs. Additionally, honors students have been shown to perform equally as well in their honors courses as their non-honors courses. You can find the referenced study here.

Q. Can I earn honors credit for extracurricular activities?

A. Yes! The Honors College offers credit for a variety of activies outside the classroom. For more information, click here.

Q. Will all of my classes be honors?

A. Undergraduates at OSU tend to take 5-6 classes (15-18 credit hours) each semester on average. Of these, approximately 1-2 will be an honors class in any given semester.

Q. What are the benefits of being in the Honors College?

A. Participation in the Honors College allows for a rich educational experience that emphasizes skills across disciplines as well as substantial study in the major. Honors students benefit from priority enrollment and extended library privileges. They get access to honors courses, advising, housing, and a designated lounge and computer lab. They also benefit from a close-knit community, with frequent special events. Honors students receive transcript and diploma designations that highlight their academic excellence and well-roundedness.

Q. Is pursuing Honors still feasible if I have already completed a lot of college credits?

A. Our advisors work one-on-one with incoming students to explain the components of the various honors awards (more information can be found here) and to develop a plan based on where each student is at academically. There are rare instances where it may make sense for a student to pursue one of our awards rather than our full Honors College Degree (i.e. entering OSU with 60+ credit hours).

However, students routinely earn honors credit for classes that are required as part of their degree program and it is possible to earn honors credit for AP classes completed in high school. The Honors College also has agreements in place with many different institutions that will allow us to recognize honors credits completed elsewhere.

Q. What is the GPA requirement to stay in the Honors College?

To be considered in good standing, honors students need to maintain a minimum GPA based on their college credit hours:

Fewer than 60 credit hours: 3.30 minimum OSU and cumulative grade point averages for all college work attempted
60-93 credit hours: 3.40 minimum OSU and cumulative grade point averages for all college work attempted
94 or more credit hours: 3.50 minimum OSU and cumulative grade point averages for all college work attempted

Students whose GPA falls below this stated threshold may be extended the opportunity to petition to remain in the Honors College.