The Honors Program of the Pennoni Honors College is looking for well-rounded students who are interested in enhancing their academic experience at Drexel. The Honors Program offers students more challenging courses in their major, as well as enrichment programs, which include guest speakers, social activities, and travel opportunities. As a part of the Honors Program, students can connect with students, staff, and faculty, becoming leaders at the University.
The Honors Program welcomes applications from incoming first-year students, current Drexel first-year and second-year students, and transfer students.
Successful applicants to the Honors Program are candidates who have a very competitive high school academic record; proven and consistent high school extracurricular involvement and leadership, research, or creative work; accolades such as awards or honors; well-articulated intellectual depth and potential; and a clear interest in participating in Honors courses, programs, and events.
To be reviewed for Drexel's Honors Program, you must formally apply to Drexel via the Common Application or Coalition Application as well as submit the separate Honors Program application accessible through your Discover Drexel portal.
Eligible students will be able to access their Honors Program application approximately 4 days after submitting their application to the university. Once your Honors application is available, you will be able to access this through the Enrichment and Scholarship tab on your Discover Drexel portal.
Early Decision (ED) Applicants
Students who apply Early Decision will receive their decision by mid-December.
- November 1 — Complete Common Application or Coalition Application and all required admission documents
- November 5 — ED Honors Program application due
Early Action (EA) Applicants
Students who apply Early Action by November 5th will receive their Honors decision by mid-January. Early Action applications received after November 5th will receive their decision on a rolling basis.
- November 1 — Complete Common Application or Coalition Application and all required admission documents
- February 1 — All EA Honors Program applications due
Regular Decision (RD) Applicants
Students who apply Regular Decision will receive their decision by April 1st.
- January 15 — Complete Common Application or Coalition Application and all required admission documents
- February 1 — RD Honors Program applications due
Good candidates for the Honors Program are students with competitive academic record; proven and consistent extracurricular involvement and leadership, research, or creative work; accolades such as awards or honors; well-articulated intellectual depth and potential; and a clear interest in participating in Honors courses, programs, and events.
If you have additional questions regarding the Current Student application process, please email us at HonorsProgram@drexel.edu for more information.
Current Drexel students must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply to the Honors Program:
- Must be in either their first or second year at Drexel
- Please refer to the various Honors Program plans of study as well as the Program requirements to ensure you are able to complete the Program.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20
- Should an applicant have below a 3.2 cumulative GPA at the time of applying, they will be required to submit 1 letter of recommendation from a current faculty member, academic advisor, or current Drexel staff member who can speak to their academic potential.
- Applicants should also maintain a record of conduct befitting an Honors Program student
- To review the university code of conduct, please visit Drexel's Student Code of Conduct.
- April 1 — Current Student applications open for submission
- June 2 — Honors Program application due
- August 31 — Honors Decisions released for Current Drexel students
Current Drexel students who are eligible to apply to Honors are encouraged to submit their application by following the link below. Please refer to the Dates and Deadlines section above to ensure you submit your materials by the final application deadline.
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A good transfer candidate for the Honors Program will have a strong record of engagement, demonstrating positive achievement either within a previous Honors Program or in activities or studies outside the typical classroom setting, such as creative work, research, community or government service, entrepreneurship, or athletics. We are also looking for a clear interest in participating in Honors courses, programs, and events.
If you have additional questions regarding the Transfer student application process, please email the Transfer admissions team at enroll@drexel.edu for more information.
Transfer students who participated in an Honors program at their previous college or university may be eligible to transfer Honors credits towards our Honors Program graduation requirements. A maximum of 9 Honors credits from any college or university may be considered by the Drexel Honors Program for transfer.
These credits are solely for the use and purpose of fulfilling the Honors Program requirements, not your major requirements. Questions about transferring credits towards degree completion should be directed to your major academic advisor.
Transfer students applying to the Honors Program must meet the following criteria:
- Must have at least seven academic terms remaining once arriving at Drexel
- Please refer to the various Honors Program plans of study as well as the Program requirements to ensure you are able to complete the Program.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 from your transferring institution
- Applicants should also maintain a record of conduct befitting an Honors Program student
- To review the university code of conduct, please visit Drexel's Student Code of Conduct.
To be reviewed for Drexel's Honors Program, you must formally apply to Drexel as a transfer student, be admitted to the University. Transfer students who have been admitted to Drexel may then apply to the Honors Program beginning April 1st via the separate Honors Program application accessible through your Discover Drexel portal.
There will be two possible round for application review. Those who have submitted their Honors application between April 1st and May 15th will receive an Honors decision by early June. Those who have submitted their application between May 16th and July 31st will receive their Honors decision by Mid-August.
- April 1 — Honors Program application opens for submission
- July 31 — Honors Program application due
- Mid-August — Honors Decisions released for Transfer Students
How will my application be evaluated?
The Honors Program Application Review Committee evaluates each application based on academic credentials; active membership and leadership in extra-curricular activities; evidence of strong writing skills, creative thinking, and attention to detail; and evidence of a sincere desire to join the Honors Program. We are also looking for evidence that students understand what it means to be an engaged, successful student in the Honors Program.
Can you explain why my friend with a lower GPA was accepted and I was declined?
While GPA and other academic scores are a strong consideration during the application review process, we are seeking students who are also actively involved in interests outside of the classroom, show development of leadership, and share an inquisitive nature who will ultimately benefit from the Honors Program’s cross-disciplinary curriculum.
How many students are accepted into the Honors Program each year?
While Honors Program students make up about 10% of Drexel’s undergraduate population, each year’s percentage varies by the application pool. There is no set quota.
I submitted my application online, but forgot to include something, what should I do?
Send an email with your specific question to enroll@drexel.edu. Depending on the material you omitted, we can either add the information for you or we may ask you to resubmit your entire application.
I applied and was declined for the Honors Program, is there an appeal process?
No, we do not offer an appeal or re-evaluation process to declined students. Each application is carefully evaluated and scored by the Honors Program Application Review Committee members. We receive thousands of applications from the best and brightest students nationally and internationally and we, unfortunately, are not able to accept them all. However, you are invited to reapply as a current Drexel student as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
I am an incoming first-year student having trouble submitting the online application, what should I do?
Send an email with your issue to the Drexel Admissions Office at enroll@drexel.edu.