Apply to Honors

Everyone can find a home in Honors. Honors students come from different backgrounds, experiences, majors, and perspectives, but they share important qualities: curiosity, creativity, and community. 

You have a curious and creative mind, and we're committed to supporting you and your academic success. We believe the best ideas come from conversations with people who see the world differently. In Honors, you’ll be challenged to listen, learn, collaborate, and grow alongside a community of students who bring their own stories and experiences to the table. 

Priority Deadlines:

For new students entering Spring 2027: 

  • First Priority Deadline: November 1, 2026, with decisions by November 30.

For new students entering Fall 2027: 

  • First Priority Deadline: December 1, 2026, with decisions by December 31.
  • Second Priority Deadline: February 1, 2027, with decisions by February 28.

Early applications are encouraged so we can help you make the most of your academic experience. We will review applications completed after February 1, 2027 on a rolling basis. 

Honors College housing applications for the Living Learning Community: Scholar's Wing open February 1, 2027. 

Application Requirements: 

We use a holistic approach when we consider students for the Honors College. Our goal is to find students who: 

  • Demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence
  • Show leadership qualities 
  • Are great communicators, including through their writing style
  • Participate in extracurricular activities, including projects at school or volunteerism or support activities in their communities 
  • Have a commitment to their communities, including volunteerism, service projects or regular engagements 

Many of our students have an incoming GPA of 3.8, but we consider your GPA alongside your community involvement, leadership style, and communication skills. We also don’t consider standardized test scores from the ACT or SAT as a part of the admission process.  

Before You Submit Your Application: 

In addition to providing a copy of your transcripts (unofficial transcripts are fine!), some information about your high school, your intended major (it’s fine if you don’t know yet!), and whether or not you are a transfer student, this application asks you to reflect on why you want to be a part of the Honors College community. See the questions we’ll ask here. 

Important Note: This application does not save your progress, so we recommend you prepare and save your answers in a separate word document before submitting.  

Apply Now 

For information about Honors College or the admissions process, view our Why Honors? page or email our advisors at honorsadvisors@unm.edu.