What is Honors?

The University Honors Program is home to a community of Aggies who accept Horace’s ancient challenge: "Sapere Aude"—or "Dare to Know." Honors brings together a diverse group of curious, brave, creative, and engaged students who want to put their learning into practice and prepare for the future as they earn a USU degree. Honors students think critically and ask questions, find and share answers, take risks and support their peers in doing so, and engage with their communities. Our students are committed to building a life-changing experience for themselves and others: they want to—and will—change the world.

Woman baking bread in a classroom setting with the words "Gain Experience in your field" overlayed

Group of prospective students in Utah State shirts walking on a sidewalk with the words "Be part of a COMMUNITY" overlayed

Woman holding shut the beak of a large bird in front of a lake with the words "Learn OUTSIDE the classroom" overlayed

Why Honors?

The Honors Program invites students who want to make the most of their time at USU to join our community. We support our students in many ways, including:

Honors Advising and Priority Registration

  • Honors offers personalized academic and professional advising with a dedicated Honors advisor and peer advisors.
  • Students get additional help from Honors faculty advisors in their major/minor departments, as well as peer mentors and Honors tutoring.
  • Honors students create the schedules they want with early priority registration.

Honors Funding and Financial Support

  • Students can apply for up to $500 per term in research and creative funding to support projects that require materials, training, and/or conference travel.
  • Honors awards up to $1000 to support a student's study abroad or extended international service projects.
  • Honors academic scholarships of up to $1500 are available to students at every stage of our program.

Honors Maps onto Any Major 

  • Specially designed Honors courses meet USU General Education requirements and give students the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines on real-world issues, including public health, climate change, social justice, and other challenges of our time.
  • A flexible Honors point system rewards students for applying learning beyond the classroom and preparing for their professional future; our students earn Honors credit for engaging in Honors alumni mentoring, internships, research and creative projects, study abroad opportunities, and service projects.
  • Honors capstone projects allow students to build their professional portfolios by showcasing their passions and skills to future employers or graduate programs.

Community

  • Honors connects students socially and intellectually to peers, professors, and alumni in and beyond their majors.
  • Honors requires co-curricular engagement, publicizes opportunities to engage, and helps students to make the most of their time at USU.
  • Honors students can choose to live together in the Honors House building of USU's Living and Learning Community, where the Honors Program and classroom are also located. 

Apply now to the USU Honors Program!