Admissions

Apply to Honors

UNM Honors College Admissions Application

Are you curious? Creative? Community-minded?

Fall 2026 Honors College applications are open!

What is the UNM Honors College? 

The UNM Honors College is looking for students who are intellectually curious, who are highly-motivated, who have big dreams, and who want to change the world.  We offer you the personal attention of a liberal arts college, with all the resources of a world class research university.   

In the Honors College, students experience a supportive, encouraging environment where they can express themselves freely and explore a wide range of disciplines.  Bringing together students from all 200+ majors, the UNM Honors College offers small, hands-on courses taught by research faculty whose home is in Honors.  

All of our classes are interdisciplinary, which means they combine different fields (like biology, fine arts, paleontology, literature and business). By connecting ideas across disciplines, including your major, you will learn how to approach complex problems from many perspectives.  We want to help you develop your creative and critical thinking skills to address the big challenges and questions of the 21st century, whether globally or right here in New Mexico. 

The Honors College also offers opportunities for research, internships, and study abroad.  We have extracurricular activities, too, where you can have fun and make friends.  And, because most honors courses satisfy general education requirements, participation in honors may not add extra credits to your degree. 

Honors, though, is not just a checklist of experiences. It’s a community of relationships, with faculty and staff committed to helping you along your journey, and fellow students who share our values of creativity, curiosity, and of course community. 

Questions? Send us a message at honorsadvisors@unm.edu.

Application Deadlines

Space is limited! Fall 2026 applicants are encouraged to apply by the priority deadlines. 

  • 1st priority deadline: February 1, 2026
  • 2nd priority deadline: April 1, 2026

Spring 2026 applications are processed on a rolling basis, and early applications are encouraged.

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Some Advantages of the Honors Experience

  • Unique curriculum 
  • Small classes 
  • Holistic Admission 
  • Specialized Advising 
  • Priority Registration 
  • A/CR/NC Grading 
  • Study Abroad 
  • Undergraduate Research 
  • Residence Hall Honors Wing 

How do I apply?

At UNM, we are looking for students who are engaged in their studies and in the world around them.  We want students who are curious, creative, and committed to both the pursuit of their dreams and contributing to the community. In turn, UNM’s Honors College is committed to an admissions processed focused on inclusive excellence. Our goal is to create a diverse class that represents the full spectrum of highly-motivated students at UNM, including first-generation college students, rural and urban students, international students, students from different regions of the country, and all colleges and majors. 

The College admits students by using a holistic approach. A combination of factors will be considered when making the final admission decision. While there are no GPA requirements for admission, successful applicants tend to have at least a 3.50 GPA from high school, or 3.20 GPA from their previous transfer institution.   

Applicants may review this preview of the admission questions prior to submitting an Honors College Admissions Application. 

Factors Considered

  • Cumulative GPA
  • Extracurricular Activities and Service
  • Leadership
  • Committment to Community
  • Awards
  • Written Responses

Note: Standardized scores (ACT or SAT) are not considered in the Honors College admissions process.  

Additional Information for Incoming Honors College Students

Active Status

Incoming students are encouraged to read the Academic Advising page for information about Active Status requirements in the Honors College.

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All incoming UNM students, regardless of Honors College admission, register for their first semester courses during their New Student Orientation (NSO). We recommend that incoming students sign up for the earliest NSO available for the greatest course selection.

Honors College students who maintain active status and are in good academic standing will receive Priority Registration benefits for the subsequent semester. For example, incoming students who register for an Honors College course during their NSO for Fall 2026 will start receiving priority registration benefits during registration week in November 2026 for Spring 2027 courses. 

AP Credits

Students who receive HNRS credit from AP Research or AP Seminar can apply these credits towards their Honors College credential in the "additional credit hours in HNRS or UHON of any level or in approved honors courses in other units" category. Students who receive AP Research credit, AP Seminar credit, or AP credit that satisfy the humanities general education requirement still need to register for HNRS 1120 Legacy Seminar to start their Honors College experience. 

Want to learn more about the UNM Honors College? 

We invite you to Visit the Honors College and/or schedule an Academic Advising appointment with an Honors College advisor.