Current Student & Transfer Admissions

Students who are interested in joining the Honors College have the following options.

Rising sophomores:

Students who have completed one year of coursework at UMD or elsewhere can apply to join the Honors College. Admission for students entering their second year is highly competitive, and the number of spaces available is extremely limited. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required to apply. Invitation to the Honors College is based on available space in our living-learning programs.

The application to join the Honors College is now available. The application deadline is August 1. You can expect to hear back no later than August 15, 2026. If invited to join the Honors College, you will be able to register for honors coursework for Fall 2026. Please contact us with any questions at honorsadmissions@umd.edu.

First-year students enrolled in College Park Scholars, Carillon, and FIRE are eligible to apply to the Honors College. If admitted, students in College Park Scholars or FIRE must withdraw from those programs to join the Honors College.

Rising juniors or seniors:

Students should consider applying to a Departmental Honors program in their major or college. Please review the entrance and academic requirements for the Departmental Honors program in their major for more information.

Students interested in cybersecurity should consider applying to the ACES Minor in Cybersecurity. The application is available every fall semester.