{"id":7594,"date":"2024-12-04T09:58:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T14:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/honors\/?page_id=7594"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:30:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:30:47","slug":"pathways","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/honors\/prospective-students\/pathways\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore All Honors Admission Pathways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
Admissions for in-person <\/strong>bachelor’s<\/strong> degree<\/span><\/span> seeking students beginning at Marshall on the Huntington campus in Fall 2026<\/strong> are open through May 01, 2026<\/strong>. Honors College Scholarship offers must be accepted by May 15, 2026<\/strong>.\u00a0If you do not meet the criteria for Admission by Invitation, consider applying through our Admission by Holistic Review<\/strong> pathway listed on our Admissions page<\/a>. Note that all admitted Honors students must accept the scholarship through the process described below. Top Scholar<\/strong> applicants must also be admitted to the Honors College to be considered. Priority for Honors Housing<\/strong> requires admission to the college before May 01, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Admissions<\/h2>\n

Incoming First-Year Students (High School Students)<\/h3>\n

Incoming first-year students who have been accepted to Marshall University now have TWO pathways<\/strong> to admission in the Honors College. Most students will join the college through “Admission by Invitation” on the basis of prescribed minimums in standardized test scores and high school GPA. Beginning in the 2022 academic year, we opened admission to students who do not have the standardized test score that would lead to an invitation to join the college. Students who have excelled in high school and have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of Honors education at Marshall University<\/em> should explore “Admission by Holistic Review” as a pathway to join the college.<\/p>\n

Note<\/span><\/div>
Only the second pathway, Admission by Holistic Review, requires an separate application to the Honors College.<\/div><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n

All admitted Honors students should also consider applying for one of our available scholarships<\/a> in the college for incoming, first-year students if they are eligible according to criteria laid out in the donor agreements for the funds that provide these scholarships. Due to a policy of the Office of Student Financial Assistance, the Honors College Scholarship (which is a partial tuition-waiver) can only be awarded to incoming<\/strong>, first-year students at Marshall (i.e., students who have not yet begun their coursework at Marshall as fully admitted students pursuing an undergraduate degree). For incoming, first-year students beginning at Marshall in the Spring<\/strong> semester, they would be eligible to receive 1\/2 of the scholarship for that academic year, but could begin receiving the full scholarship in their first full year–as long as they maintain good standing in the Honors College.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Membership in the Honors College requires that students be enrolled full-time in a Bachelor’s degree program at Marshall University.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tAre you wondering if honors education is a good fit for you?<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n \n \n \n \n

\n Admission by Invitation for Incoming, First-Year Students (No Application)\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Currently, the majority of admissions to the Honors College are by invitation based on quantitative standards. Incoming first-year students who have been accepted to Marshall University and have a 26 ACT <\/strong>or 1230 SAT<\/strong> or higher composite score and at least a 3.5 GPA<\/strong> in high school will be invited to join the Honors College after being accepted as prospective students at Marshall–generally by email. ANY student with the criteria for Admission by Invitation can follow the link below to join the college. You do not need to wait until you are invited.<\/strong> There is no separate application for admission to the college via this pathway to admission. The stated test scores and GPA must be achieved and reported to the university before<\/em> 01 May of the admission year. We recommend that you accept our invitation as soon as possible. For a helpful checklist for students intending to become #oneoftheherd, checkout the Enrollment Checklist<\/a>. Students will need to have activated their student account (as seen in the checklist under “ID and Computing Account”) in order to obtain their login credentials for accepting the Honors College invitation as this accesses a student record to confirm eligiblity.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tInstructions to View and Accept Our Admissions Invitation<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n
\n Admission by Holistic Review for Incoming, First-Year Students (Application Required)\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Students admitted to Marshall who do not<\/em> <\/strong>meet the minimum test score that would lead an automatic invitation to be admitted to the Honors College, through the standard admissions process, but who do have<\/em> at least a 3.5<\/strong> GPA<\/strong> in high school may still apply<\/strong> for admission to the Honors College. We are looking for students who demonstrate curiosity, self-motivation, and a passion to contribute to the common good.<\/p>\n

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through 01 May each year for admission in the coming Fall semester. <\/strong>A decision is normally provided two weeks after submission of an application. Past accomplishment is considered, but we are looking to assess future potential for success in honors education at Marshall. Students who are admitted through the Holistic Review process will be at “Step Five” in the process describe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The application includes: Basic background information on the applicant (contact, demographics, high school information); Current 12th grade coursework (including any\/all AP and Dual Credit courses); College and career plans; Important roles played in the communities of which the applicant is a part (e.g., those that demonstrate engagement, leadership, and a willingness to serve); Employment information (optional); Forms of public recognition (e.g., awards, scholarships, and honors) received; Information about particular circumstances that may affect the applicant (optional); Short essay prompts that request reflection on the mission of honors education, the applicant\u2019s unique traits, and what the applicant wants out of their experience in the Honors College.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tSubmit an Application for Holistic Review<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

Current 1st Semester, Continuing, Transfer, and Late-Admitted Students (College Students)<\/h3>\n

Current, transfer, and first-year, incoming students admitted to start at Marshall University in the Spring semester have two pathways for admission. The pathway available to them will depend on their particular situation. Only Admission by Holistic Review requires an application to the Honors College.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note<\/span><\/div>
All requests for admission (Admission by Invitation pathway) or applications for admission (Admission by Holistic Review pathway) must be made before the end of the 7th week<\/strong> of the Fall or Spring semester.<\/div><\/div>\n

Fall Semester<\/h4>\n \n \n \n \n
\n Admission by Invitation for Current Students (No Application)\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Current, first-semester<\/strong> students admitted to Marshall to begin their degree requirements in the Fall semester who are NOT classified as transfer students<\/strong> (students who began their Baccalaureate degree elsewhere before coming to Marshall) <\/em>and who have not yet earned a GPA at Marshall but have at least a 3.5<\/strong> high school GPA and at least a 26<\/strong> ACT or 1230 SAT composite score, can request to be considered for late “Admission by Invitation,” which does not require an application<\/strong>. This pathway to admission is only <\/strong>available in the FALL<\/strong> semester for current students and must be done before the 7th week of the semester.<\/strong> These are students who have perhaps not recognized value of their invitation from the Honors College when they were admitted to Marshall, but have come to understand that they want to join the mission of honors education.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tRequest Fall Admission by Invitation<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n
\n Admission by Holistic Review for Continuing and Transfer Students (Application Required)\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Current, first-semester students<\/strong> admitted to Marshall to begin their degree requirements in the Fall semester who are NOT classified as transfer students (students who began their Baccalaureate degree elsewhere before coming to Marshall) <\/em>and who have not yet<\/strong> earned a GPA at Marshall but have at least a 3.5 high school GPA <\/strong>may petition for a Holistic Review.<\/p>\n

Continuing students<\/strong> (current students who are continuing at Marshall from an earlier semester<\/strong>) and qualified transfer<\/strong> students (students who began their Baccalaureate degree elsewhere before coming to Marshall) <\/em>with at least a 3.5<\/strong> overall<\/strong> GPA in at least 12 completed credit hours as a full-time college student, who will have no more than 30 earned credit-hours applied to their transcript<\/strong> at the end of the Fall semester, may petition for admission by requesting to submit an application to the college. At the time of application, both current and transfer students may request a waiver of up to 6 hours of General Honors credits toward completion of the required Honors Curriculum.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tRequest an Holistic Admission Review<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

Spring Semester<\/h4>\n \n \n \n \n
\n Admission by Invitation (No Application) for Late-Admitted, Spring-Semester Students\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Students admitted to Marshall to begin their degree requirements in the Spring semester who are NOT classified as transfer students<\/strong> (students who began their Baccalaureate degree elsewhere before coming to Marshall) <\/em>and who have not yet earned a GPA at Marshall but have at least a 3.5<\/strong> high school GPA and at least a 26<\/strong> ACT or 1230 SAT composite score, can request to be considered for late “Admission by Invitation,” which does not require an application<\/strong>. This pathway to admission is only <\/strong>available in the Spring semester for late-admitted students.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\tRequest Spring Admission by Invitation (Late MU Admitted)<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n
\n Admission by Holistic Review for Current and Transfer Students\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
\n Current<\/strong> students (continuing at Marshall from an earlier semester) and qualified transfer<\/strong> students (students who began their Baccalaureate degree elsewhere before coming to Marshall) <\/em>with at least a 3.5<\/strong> overall<\/strong> college GPA in at least 12 completed credit hours, who will have no more than 30 earned credit-hours applied to their transcript<\/strong> at the end of the Spring semester, may petition for admission by requesting to submit an application to the college. At the time of application, both current and transfer students may request a waiver of up to 6 hours of General Honors credits toward completion of the required Honors Curriculum.<\/p>\n

Transfer from Other Honors Programs or Colleges<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Students transferring from another college or university where they are a member in good standing of a recognized honors college or program (preferably one following NCHC guidelines) may petition for admission to the Honors College at Marshall University regardless of total earned credit hours. These students must demonstrate:<\/em><\/p>\n