50 Best Honors Colleges – 2024

About: The Jere W. Morehead Honors College began in 1960 with a handful of classes and about 40 students and now serves more than 2,800 undergraduates each year—including 550 incoming first-year students for fall 2023. Honors students can choose any degree program at UGA, which has 170-plus majors and academic programs. Benefits include small class sizes, internship programs, travel-study funding, research opportunities, faculty connections, scholarship support, early registration, and access to unique alumni networking opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of the Class of 2022 was employed or continuing their education six months after graduation. Popular employers include Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Walt Disney Company, and Deloitte. Salaries vary between colleges; engineering grads had a median starting salary of $65k while journalism and communication grads reported a $50k median. In 2022, 24% of graduates enrolled directly into a graduate/professional degree program, with the most commonly attended schools including Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgia Tech, Penn, and UVA.

About: The Schreyer Honors College is widely and consistently recognized as one of the top undergraduate programs in the United States. With access to distinguished faculty, smaller honors class sizes, and individualized support, the honors experience at Penn State offers highly motivated high school students a rigorous undergraduate academic experience that combines all of the resources of one of the country’s largest research institutions with all the benefits of a small liberal arts college.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation, 70% of Nittany Lions have found their next employment or graduate school home. 98% of College of Business grads are successful within three months of exiting, flocking in large numbers to stellar finance, accounting, consulting, and technology firms. Hundreds of alumni work at Citi, Salesforce, and Meta, and more than 500 currently work at each of IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. 75% of 2022 grads employed full-time earned starting salaries greater than $50k.

About: The University Honors Program focuses on personal, professional, and intellectual development through layering high-impact experiences. The central goal of an Honors education at Texas A&M is to provide students who thrive on challenge and enrichment the opportunity to realize their full potential of personal, professional, and intellectual growth. Benefits include close contact with accomplished faculty, collaborative learning with other motivated students, small, discussion-based seminars and/or one-on-one instruction, knowledge production through individual research experiences, and engagement with internships, foreign study, and campus or community service.

Professional Outcomes: On graduation day, 54% of students had already received at least one job offer and 22% were heading to graduate/professional school. Many Aggies go on to work at major oil, tech, and consulting firms; more than 500 are employed at each of ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Chevron, EY, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, and PWC. Starting salaries were strong—on average, College of Engineering grads made $80k and College of Agriculture & Life Sciences grads netted $54k. A&M is also the eighth-largest producer of law students in the entire country.

About: The University of Connecticut Honors Program was instituted nearly sixty years ago and has awarded Honors designations to almost 9000 UConn graduates. Approximately 2,300 students are currently enrolled in this vibrant community across all UConn’s campuses in majors spanning all undergraduate schools and colleges. The Honors Program provides unique access to undergraduate research, honors-specific courses across the curriculum, dedicated Honors faculty advisors, education abroad opportunities, and other special programs and co-curricular opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 90% of the Class of 2022 experienced a positive outcome (job, grad school, military, volunteer position) within six months of earning their degrees. Among the 59% who found employment, the largest numbers landed at Aetna, Cigna, PwC, The Hartford, Travelers, and Raytheon Technologies; the median starting salary was $62,400. Massive numbers of alumni are employed by Pratt & Whitney, Pfizer, IBM, and Deloitte. 30% of 2022 graduates immediately entered a graduate or professional program, with many choosing to stay at UConn.

About: Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University is a highly regarded, residential college for academically outstanding undergraduates. As the honors college on all four campuses of the nation’s largest public university, Barrett offers the best of both worlds – a highly-personalized academic experience backed by the resources and expansive opportunities of a Research I university. A $12 million endowment exclusively supports honors students and their projects. Barrett students can enrich their experience in many ways through unique honors-only opportunities including study abroad and globally-focused programs, undergraduate research and internships, social and cultural events, and leadership and service initiatives.

Professional Outcomes: A healthy 83% percent of ASU graduates looking for work are employed within six months of earning their degrees. The median salary for an ASU grad is roughly $55,000. Among the school’s top fifty employers are Amazon, Apple, Intel, The Vanguard Group, and Walt Disney Company. Approximately one-fifth of recent grads enrolled in graduate school. Similar to employment, the size and scope of the university lead to many graduate pathways. Many grads continue at ASU itself, but some continue at various prestigious institutions.

About: The mission of the Miami University Honors College is to produce citizen scholars, who emerge from their honors education equipped not only with a lifelong love of learning, but also a lifelong commitment to use their talents, interests, and ambitions to advance the common good. MU’s Honors College offers unique courses, study abroad programs, opportunities for faculty mentorship, and a supportive residential experience in which students thrive. Honors College students complete rigorous, scholarly curricular requirements and produce an Honors Senior Project that meets the quality of publishable or professional work by the time that they graduate.

Professional Outcomes: The overall success rate for the Class of 2022 was 99%, roughly the same as for the previous two cohorts. Fifty-five percent of recent Miami grads were employed and by mid-career, alumni enjoy a median salary of $118k. Over one-quarter of recent grads elected to continue their education in graduate or professional school. Miami boasts a strong premed program that resulted in 63% of medical school applicants gaining acceptance over the last four years.

About: South Carolina Honors College combines the resources of a top-tier research university and the feel of a small liberal arts college. Honors students have access to nearly 600 honors courses offered each year, special campus housing, unique research projects, study abroad, service learning and internships. Students are also students, supported by the National Fellowships and Scholar Programs office, and have a strong record of success in the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, Fulbright and many other prestigious competitions.

Professional Outcomes: 79% of recent grads landed at their next destination within six months with an average starting salary of over $55,000. Within the School of Business, 87% of 2023 grads were employed within three months and the average starting salary was $69k. Top employers of recent classes included KPMG, IBM, Aramark, Bank of America, Vanguard, PwC, and Marriot. The majority of those continuing their studies in a graduate/professional degree program did so at the University of South Carolina; other popular landing spots are Duke and Wake Forest.

Academic Highlights: The John Martinson Honors College offers a dynamic and rigorous curriculum designed to challenge and inspire enrolled students. Through immersive learning curriculum, undergraduate research opportunities, and real-world experiences, With small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and a network of alumni, friends and industry connections, Martinson aims to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills that prepare honors students for the challenges of the modern world. Martinson also supports new programmatic initiatives which promote undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity, leadership and professional development, global and community engagement, and innovative pedagogies.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 70% of 2022 grads headed to the world of employment while 24% headed to graduate/professional school. The top industries entered by grads in recent years are (1) health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; (2) finance, insurance, and consulting; (3) manufacturing and machinery; (4) airline, aviation, and aerospace. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Amazon, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Labcorp, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. The average starting salary was $68k across all degree programs.

About: Because of their deep curiosity and intrinsic motivation, Echols Scholars enjoy flexibility in their academic requirements in order to pursue their individual scholarly interests. Scholars are granted an exemption from the General Education requirements within the College of Arts & Sciences while also receiving special access to priority enrollment, honors-only advising resources, and honors-only housing. Since the Echols Scholars Program is founded upon the principle of academic motivation and intellectual creativity, students in the program have the opportunity to define a course of study that will permit attainment of academic and career goals that fall outside existing majors or interdisciplinary programs within the college.

Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their degree, 95% of the Class of 2022 immediately joined the workforce–with an average starting salary of $90k–or headed directly to graduate school. The most popular industries were internet & software, higher education, and management consulting. Capital One (85), Deloitte (46), Amazon (38), and Bain & Co. (26) scooped up the greatest number of 2022 grads. UVA itself was the most popular grad school destination followed by Columbia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Johns Hopkins.

About: Michigan’s LSA Honors Program is a four-year program that provides an especially rich and challenging set of academic offerings to talented and highly motivated students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Through Honors courses, research with faculty, and a vigorous intellectual community, this highly-ranked academic program enables students to identify their intellectual interests and to pursue them deeply. During their first two years, students will participate in an Honors Core course from the areas of Natural Science (NS), Social Science (SS), and the Humanities (H). In their final two years at U-M, students who graduate with Honors all participate in a capstone project by writing a thesis in their area of major.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

About: In 1986, the University of Pittsburgh established an honors college to meet the special academic and co-curricular needs of students who sought to elevate their undergraduate experiences. Honors students can enhance their Pitt undergraduate degree in any major by choosing one of our distinctive programs–the Honors Distinction, the Honors Degree, and the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil)–all while having access to a dedicated advisor within the Frederick Honors College as as well as access to unique honors courses and undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

Academic Highlights: Leahy Honors College makes available special programs, courses, and student activities. It also offers honors students academic mentoring and provides opportunities for leadership, community participation, and academic achievement. The Honors College also oversees the office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research, which advises on undergraduate research opportunities, coordinates the annual UVM Student Research Conference, and gives access to advising on national fellowship and scholarship opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Over the last three years, graduates have enjoyed a 94% success rate. Alumni earned an average starting salary of $49,909 during that span of time. Roughly 90% of grads stated that their current job was related to their career goals. Top employers included Mass General Hospital, Beta Technologies, and GlobalFoundries. Looking at the Class of 2022 who enrolled in advanced degree programs, common universities included Northeastern, BU, Simmons, NYU, and Cornell.

About: The Honors College at Clemson University, which combines the strengths of a public, land-grant university with those of a highly selective small college. Honors students have the ability to engage in cutting-edge research with some of the leading faculty in the country. And they are able to do so while getting to know their professors in small classes and in other settings. Honors students can also take advantage of a wide range of classes in the sciences and engineering, education, the arts, humanities, and the social sciences, and can also take specially designed, intensive seminars.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 92% of 2022 grads had already entered the working world or were pursuing a graduate degree. The top employers of newly-minted diploma holders include Michelin, Amazon, Vanguard, and Wells Fargo. Computing and Applied Sciences reported a median starting salary of $62,000. College of Business graduates enjoyed median earnings of $60,000. Of the 19% of recent graduates directly entering grad school, the largest number retained their Tiger stripes by continuing their studies at Clemson.

Academic Highlights: Honors Carolina is a rigorous, interdisciplinary academic program designed for students who are eager to explore beyond their immediate academic concentrations and anticipated career trajectories. Benefits include preferred registration, access to honors-only internships and study abroad opportunities, dedicated advisors, personalized coaching, designated housing, and alumni networking.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Chapel Hill, 97% of 2022 grads had entered employment, military service, or graduate school. Among the for-profit companies that hire the most graduates are Wells Fargo, IBM, Cisco, Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. In the nonprofit sector, a large number of alumni are employed by AmeriCorps, NIH, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps. The average starting salary is $70,619. 18% of 2022 grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school.

About: The University Honors Program promotes the intellectual and personal development of undergraduate students through an enriched academic experience and integration of curricular and co-curricular programming. Honors students can take advantage of Honors status in 200+ majors across campus; choose from more than 350 sections of Honors classes, averaging fewer than 25 students each; pursue original research and write an Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member; live in three designated Honors learning communities; and receive university-level priority course scheduling to meet your Honors requirements.

Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their diplomas, 56% of Class of 2022 graduates were entering the world of employment while 17% were already accepted into graduate or professional school.  Hordes of Buckeyes can be found at many of the nation’s leading companies. More than 2,000 alumni work for JPMorgan Chase, more than 1,000 are employed by Amazon, and more than 600 work for Google and Microsoft. Of the grads who directly matriculate into graduate or professional school, many continue in one of OSU’s own programs.

About: The Interdisciplinary Honors curriculum merges sciences and humanities to fulfill UW general education requirements; primarily through small, seminar-style classes. Experiential learning requirements guarantee development outside of the classroom while Honors’ portfolio practice strengthens writing, reflection, and synthesis across disciplines. Honors students benefit from unique opportunities such as small, engaging Interdisciplinary Honors classes that teach new ways of thinking & learning; reflection to promote deliberate educational choices; engagement in international study, community service, leadership and research; close contact with professors & community scholars; unique honors study abroad opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

Academic Highlights: The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University is the nation’s only university-affiliated, free-standing honors college. Located in Jupiter, FL on the John D. MacArthur campus of Florida Atlantic, this close-knit, residential, highly-selective liberal arts and sciences college offers a distinctive all-honors curriculum and is surrounded by world-renowned scientific research institutes, where undergraduates benefit from unique access to research internships.

Professional Outcomes: With a 68% job placement rate, many students have positive post-graduate outcomes. Currently, nearly 3,000 alumni work at Florida Atlantic itself while just over 1,000 are employed by Broward County Public Schools. 200+ alumni work for each of Broward College, Palm Beach State College, Broward Health, and NextEra Energy. Many can also be found at major corporations such as Amazon, Microsoft, Hilton, Marriott, and Salesforce. Sector-wise, most alumni work in business development followed by operations, education, and sales.

About: A state-of-the-art Honors College, students have opportunities from the very beginning, including exposure to research, extensive collaboration with fellow students and faculty, and even one-on-one discussions with live-in faculty to share ideas. Students collaborate in the high-tech seminar rooms, in the Innovation Lab, and in the many lounges and study areas throughout the building. They also have on-site academic advising and administrative support.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduation, 82% of Class of 2022 grads had secured a first job or were heading to an advanced degree program. 67% headed directly to the world of employment, where the companies hiring the largest number of grads included Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, and JP Morgan Chase. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Citi also employ hundreds of alumni, as do companies like Verizon, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and Google. The median starting salary across all majors was $70,000.

About: The Robert D. Clark Honors College offers a small, liberal arts college experience with the added benefit of a major research university and its cutting-edge research faculty and facilities. Our small, discussion-based class sizes – capped at 19 – allow students to develop one-on-one relationships with faculty members, and you’ll learn with CHC students from majors across the UO campus. At the Honors College, there is a clear pathway toward involvement in hands-on research, along with access to internships and other career opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Members of the Class of 2022 already had their next destination lined up at graduation with 78% already employed or entering graduate school.  For 73% of that group, their outcomes related directly to the degree that they had just completed. More than 1,000 Oregon alumni work for Nike, and hundreds of others occupy offices at Intel, Amazon, Microsoft, Adidas, Google, Apple, and Salesforce. The median starting salary for a 2022 graduate was $51,000.

About: Macaulay Honors College at CUNY is a highly selective college where New York’s most promising students receive the financial and academic support to realize their leadership potential. Macaulay students receive a tuition scholarship, funding for experiential learning, personalized advising by dedicated staff, internship opportunities with nearly 600 organizations, and an opportunity to work CUNY professors on research projects across dozens of academic disciplines.

Outcomes: Many Macaulay graduates continue their education, going on to earn a master’s degree, a professional degree such as medicine or law, or a doctoral degrees. Others decide to begin their careers immediately, and work across a wide spectrum of market sectors, the arts, entrepreneurship, public service, or work overseas. Nearly 250 Macaulay alumni are winners of prestigious awards like the Rhodes, Fulbright, and Truman. Nearly 90 percent of all Macaulay students graduate debt free.

About: The University of Delaware Honors College provides opportunities for academically talented and motivated students to take advantage of the resources of a major research institution while maintaining the feel and attention of a much smaller university.  Students in the UD Honors College will have opportunities to lead class discussions, conduct innovative research, and write papers worthy of publication and tackling some of the most challenging topics in your major and beyond. Additional benefits include small honors courses, a living-learning community, close connections with faculty, research funding, honors advisement, and access to an engaged honors alumni network.

Professional Outcomes: 94% of Class of 2022 grads quickly found their next destination. 66% were employed, with 74% taking jobs at for-profit companies, 16% at nonprofits, 7% in K-12 education, and 4% with a government entity. The greatest number of newly minted alums were hired by JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, EY, ChristianaCare, and Deloitte. The median starting salary for this cohort was $62,000. 28% immediately pursued an advanced degree, with 62% entering master’s programs, 20% entering a professional program, and 9% beginning a PhD.

About: The University Honors Program at Florida State University is the only Florida Honors Program with a dedicated cohort of Honors Teaching Faculty, full-time instructors assigned specifically to the program who design the innovative courses they offer. Honors students enjoy ailored courses designed in partnership with faculty across the university to promote critical thinking and inspire innovation, dedicated advisors available daily, two centrally located residence halls for living with like-minded peers, and guaranteed priority registration for classes each term.

Professional Outcomes: Eighty-three percent of job-seeking Seminole grads receive at least one offer of employment within three months of graduation. The top five sectors employing 2022 grads are (in order) finance, technology, marketing, health, and engineering. Roughly one-third of 2022 Florida State grads elected to immediately pursue admission into an advanced degree program; 75% of those who apply receive at least one acceptance. A typical graduating class sees over 100 students accepted into medical schools and over 200 accepted into law schools.

About: Combining a close community of diverse students with the singular opportunities of a premier public research university in the nation’s capital area, the Honors College offers a flexible array of eight state of the art living-learning programs. These highly acclaimed programs, innovative and at the frontiers of Honors education, offer exciting exploration of different interdisciplinary areas. Maryland Honors combines the access and care of a small liberal arts college with the vast resources and opportunities of our leading research university. Students take 15-18 credits in one living-learning program in order to earn an Honors Citation, an academic distinction noted on their transcript. Each program’s unique curriculum is designed to fit into the general education requirements already established as part of students’ degree plans.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of Class of 2022 grads had positive outcomes. 67% found employment; the companies/organizations that hired the greatest number of grads included Northrop Grumman, Deloitte, Amazon, and EY. Meta, Apple, and Google employ more than 200 alumni each.  The mid-50% salary range for 2022 grads was $55k-$83k. 21% of the Class of 2022 headed directly to graduate and professional school; 11% entered doctoral programs, 5% entered medical school, and 5% entered law school.

Academic Highlights: Plan II is a small honors program within the University of Texas at Austin where students can explore the issues and questions that shape the human experience. The Plan II major can be combined with other studies, giving students the best of what UT has to offer. In addition to small classes with the best teachers on campus, the program offers extremely personalized support. Two professional academic advisors hold walk-in advising hours year-round to help you navigate your academic path. Plan II also has its own scholarship and grant programs so that once you are a Plan II student you can apply for tuition, study abroad, and/or research funding support.

Professional Outcomes: Within the College of Liberal Arts, six months after graduating, 68% of Longhorns are employed and 24% have entered graduate school. The for-profit sector attracts 65% of those employed while 19% enter public sector employment and 16% pursue jobs at a nonprofit. Major corporations that employ more than 500 UT Austin grads include Google, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. Engineering majors took home a median income of $79k and business majors took home $70k.

About: The University Honors Program (UHP) provides students an enriched opportunity within each of the U of M freshman colleges, creating a program of shared passions, creative collaboration, and intellectual and cultural diversity. Benefits include honors seminars and courses, an honors residential community, one-on-one honors advising, and the opportunity to engage in NEXUS experiences which bring together students and faculty from across the university in small groups to engage in non-standard learning models and address interdisciplinary problems.

Professional Outcomes: The top seven companies snatching up the largest number of recent grads are all companies headquartered in the state of Minnesota: Medtronic, Target, 3M, United Health Group, US Bank, and Cargill. Google, Apple, and Meta all employ hundreds of Twin Cities alumni. The mean starting salary for recent grads was $50k. With 130 graduate programs in science, art, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and the humanities, the University of Minnesota retains many of its graduates as they pursue their next degrees.

About: The Honors College at the University of North Carolina Wilmington attracts an intellectually and socially diverse group of engaged students, involved in every major and in all areas of university life. The University Honors Program is a four-year curriculum including seminars, Honors-enhanced University Studies, extra-curricular experiences, and applied learning experiences. In addition, honors students enrich their studies with domestic and international travel, undergraduate research and creativity, service-learning, unique interdisciplinary courses, and a community of citizen scholars

Professional Outcomes: Nursing grads—UNCW’s most popular major—make an average starting salary of $67k. Business majors—the second-most popular discipline—have a post-grad employment rate of 45%. 15% of newly minted business alums immediately pursue a graduate or professional program. During their undergrad years, 58% of business students ultimately complete an internship, and they enjoy an average starting salary of $55k.

About: The Honors College is a learning community within the College of Charleston, providing enrolled students access to a living-learning community, personalized mentoring, small, seminary-style courses, additional scholarship support, unique networking opportunities, professional development guidance, and student leadership roles.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 78% of the Class of 2022 was employed and 18% were attending graduate/professional school. 5% were volunteering, serving in the military, or pursuing a paid internship. Of those employed, popular sectors included science, technology, engineering, and math; health services; and marketing/sales. Top employers for alumni who exited in the past five years include the College of Charleston itself, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston County School District, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

About: Each member of the Honors College is awarded one of three scholarships and take part in a diverse range of high-impact experiences that extend far beyond the classroom, including undergraduate research, study abroad, research, internships, living-learning experiences, and a multitude of service-related opportunities. All first-year Honors students live together in the Honors College Living-Learning Community, housed in ECU’s Greene Residence Hall.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 53% of the Class of 2022 were working full-time while 26% were enrolled in an advanced degree program. Top employers of recent grads included ECU Health, East Carolina University, WakeMed, the US military, UNC Health, Pitt County Schools, and the Duke University Health System. Of those who elected to continue their education, nearly two-thirds did so at East Carolina. Others went on to institutions like Duke, Wake Forest, Appalachian State, UNC Wilmington, and UNC Chapel Hill.

About: Established in 1997 through a gift from the Jim Barksdale family, the Honors College merges intellectual rigor with community action. It offers an education similar to that at prestigious private liberal arts schools and universities, but at a far lower cost. Small, discussion-based classes, dedicated faculty and a nurturing staff enable honors students to experience intellectual as well as personal growth. Honors students live on honors floors in the residence halls and enjoy 24-hour access to the Honors College building.

Professional Outcomes: Outcomes vary by school. For example, 80% of College of Business grads were employed full-time upon graduation, and 15% were continuing their education. The starting salary was $57k, and top employers included Brown & Riding, FedEx, Amazon, and Higginbotham. Across all majors and graduating years, the most popular sectors are business development, operations, sales, education, healthcare services, and finance. Popular employers are the University of Mississippi, Deloitte, FedEx, KPMG, EY, Amazon, and PwC.

About: Commonwealth Honors College is a community of scholars on a campus full of opportunities. Students build community through collegewide events, take small classes that support their academic journey through direct engagement with renowned faculty and intellectually curious peers, have access to dedicated advising staff, and can receive support for their thesis through Honors Research Grants. An integrated living, learning community is also fostered in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community where many Honors students live.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 65% of newly minted 2022 grads were employed full-time and 26% were attending graduate school part-time. The most populated industries are health/medical professions (13%), internet & software (10%), biotech & life sciences (4%), and higher education (4%). Companies presently employing 100+ Minutemen and Minutewomen include Oracle, Mass Mutual, Amazon, IBM, Google, Intel, Microsoft, PwC, Wayfair, and Apple. Boston is the most popular landing spot for graduates.

About: In 1985, NJIT established an Honors Program to encourage and challenge its brightest and most motivated students. Dorman students enroll special classes in areas of their greatest strength; attend special seminars in Humanities, Management, and Science/Technology/Society; enjoy Honors Colloquia (lectures, trips, networking with distinguished speakers and alumni); conduct research or attend seminars in their major field of study; attend small classes, and create their own Honors Education Plan. All students accepted into the Honors College receive a generous scholarship package.

Professional Outcomes: Recent grads enjoyed an 85% employment rate within six months of earning their diploma and another 5% entered graduate school; 6% were still searching for their next step. The average starting salary is $67,852. Employers of 200+ alumni include Merck, JP Morgan Chase and Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Citi, Amazon Web Services, Bank of America, and Microsoft.

About: Being an honors student at UTK is more than simply taking specialized classes and participating in a specialized curriculum. Additional benefits include honors-only advising, research funding, and access to a honors living-learning community. University Honors students graduate at much higher rates (around 12-16% points higher) and report going to graduate or professional school after graduation almost twice as much as non-honors students (42% vs 27%).

Professional Outcomes: Six months after receiving their diplomas, 64% of UT-Knoxville alumni have found jobs and 27% have started their graduate school careers. The top employers of the Class of 2023 were the UT Medical Center, PepsiCo, and Axle Logistics. Among those headed to graduate/professional school, the five most commonly attended institutions were the University of Tennessee, UT Health Science Center, Lincoln Memorial University, East Tennessee University, and Belmont University.

About: Across three USF campus, the Judy Genshaft Honors College fosters a thriving learning environment that empowers students to reach their full potential by providing a distinctive interdisciplinary Honors curriculum featuring small classes taught by engaged and creative faculty; empowering student achievement with expert individual academic advising and world-class opportunities through the Office of National Scholars; encouraging each student to participate in a significant and rewarding research experience; and supporting every eligible student with an Honors scholarship worth up to $2,000, plus the opportunity to win one of nearly 40 academic and travel scholarships

Professional Outcomes: Employers that gobble up significant numbers of University of South Florida alumni include Citi, Moffitt Cancer Center, BayCare Health System, Tampa General Hospital, Raymond James, Centene Corporation, Deloitte, Microsoft, AWS, and Kforce. Therefore it’s little surprise that a study by the Florida Board of Governors revealed that USF is a highly-rated contributor to the local economy, represents excellent value, and facilitates social mobility.

About: The Honors Program at Temple University is dedicated to providing high-achieving students with enriching academic opportunities, holistic advising, a dynamic and inclusive community, and strong encouragement and support all the way to Commencement and beyond. Honors faculty lead small seminars in a variety of interesting subjects. Honors staff is dedicated to providing individualized advising on course selection, scholarships, fellowship applications, careers and graduate schools.

Professional Outcomes: 51% of recent grads quickly secured employment and another 18% were enrolled in graduate school. Hundreds of Owl alumni can be found at big-time companies such as Merck, Comcast, Vanguard, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Bristol Myers Squib. Within six months of graduating, 91% of Fox School of Business 2021 graduates were employed or had started their own businesses. The median salary for all graduates of that school was $57,000.

About: Grounded in the resources of a globally ranked research university, the W.A. Franke Honors College provides the opportunity to take small classes with the University of Arizona’s top educators, engage in research and creative expression with the University’s top researchers, designers, and artists, experience the world through study abroad, and create lifelong friends through shared experiences.

Professional Outcomes: In recent years, some of the top employers hiring Arizona grads have been Raytheon, Vanguard, PepsiCo, Amazon, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Nordstrom, and Texas Instruments, and an astonishing 92% of employers rate Wildcats as coming to their first job with the skills needed to succeed. Recent College of Management grads enjoy a starting salary in excess of $60k, while College of Engineering grads have an average starting salary of $74,000. Many who go on to pursue advanced degrees ultimately do so at UArizona itself.

About: The UCI Campuswide Honors Collegium allows students to learn and engage with other talented and motivated students and with faculty in a supportive, learning community. Special features of the program include: a general education curriculum designed especially for honors students and taught by leading faculty; special activities involving faculty, visiting scholars, and community leaders; Honors theme housing; and the opportunity to engage in research as an undergraduate, under the mentorship of a member of the faculty, capped by a piece of signature work.

Professional Outcomes: Accounting, aerospace, internet and software, K-12 education, real estate, and retail are among the industries attracting the greatest number of Anteaters. Companies employing large numbers of recent grads include Boeing, the Walt Disney Company, Google, EY, and Microsoft. Hundreds of alumni are also found at Kaiser Permanente, Meta, Apple, Edwards Lifesciences, and Deloitte. The median salary is $69,000, with CS grads earning close to $120k right off the bat. UCI has a very strong reputation for premed.

About: UCF University Honors is a four-year program designed to offer a small college experience within a large research university throughout each student’s undergraduate career. The University Honors curriculum, which consists of Honors Symposium, General Education courses, upper-division courses for a variety of majors, and interdisciplinary seminars, contributes to a robust and well-rounded educational experience.

Professional Outcomes: Over two-thirds of recent graduates obtained employment immediately after earning their bachelor’s degree; one-quarter head right to graduate school. The median starting salary is $47,000 and the most commonly entered industries are hospital/healthcare, education, hospitality services, engineering, technology, financial, accounting, and marketing. The most popular graduate degrees pursued were in the sciences, health professions, education, and medicine.

About: The Honors College at SUNY Albany is a student-centered program open to undergraduate students from all majors. Honors College students work together in small interdisciplinary seminar courses to develop their reasoning and analytical skills, and they build expertise in a field through advanced courses in their majors. In their final year, Honors College students work with a faculty mentor to develop a unique project that will allow them to make a meaningful contribution to their world. Other benefits include research funding, faculty mentorship and weekly academic and social events.

Professional Outcomes: An exceptional 94% of 2022 graduates were already gainfully employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of earning their degree. In total, 69% are currently employed and they have a median income between $40,000-$45,000; 83% are working in New York State. Companies presently employing hundreds of alumni include Regeneron, PwC, EY, Citi,  IBM, Morgan Stanley, Google, and Deloitte. Among those in grad school, 45% remained at UAlbany.

About: The Honors College at Auburn University is designed to provide a select cohort of high-ability students a means to experience, explore, engage, and elevate their academic dreams. The college offers four types of graduation distinctions, smaller class sizes, priority registration, undergraduate research and internship opportunities, study and travel experiences, access to graduate-level courses, peer tutoring sessions, flexible curriculums, and designated Honors housing and study areas.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 58% of the Class of 2022 were employed full-time, 23% had entered graduate programs. 59% were pursuing master’s degrees, 28% professional degrees, and 4% doctorates. In 2022, the average starting salary was $58,708; engineering graduates enjoyed the highest average starting salary ($71,656). At least ten recent grads can be found at each of Vanderbilt, Emory, Columbia, Georgia Tech, NYU, and Johns Hopkins.

About: Hutton Honors challenges students with fascinating courses taught by some of IU’s most engaging instructors, extracurricular programs aligned to students’ interests, and many ways to make lifelong connections–including living with other Honors students in our Honors Residential Communities. Students also enjoy access to holistic, individualized advising, high-impact honors overseas learning experiences, and generous grants to pursue research, internships, and variety of creative endeavors.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2022 grads reached their next employment or graduate school destination at a 94% rate within six months of receiving their degrees. The median starting salary for A&S grads was $41,000. In the Kelley School of Business, 97% were placed successfully within six months, and the median starting salary was $67,000. Among the most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads are Indiana Bloomington (including its own law and medical schools), Purdue, Loyola Chicago, Northwestern, and Columbia.

About: LSU’s Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College engages a diverse population of high-achieving students in a dynamic interaction of outstanding instruction, innovative research, and public service. Honors students take advantage of an established curriculum including small, seminar-based courses, the opportunity for research, faculty mentorship, and exclusive scholarships and resources to create a premier undergraduate experience.

Professional Outcomes: A solid 83% of 2022 and 2023 graduates reported a positive outcome after receiving their diplomas. The average salary for those employed was $55,240 and companies hiring the most LSU alums were Deloitte, EY, IBM, Chevron, MMR Constructors, and the Walt Disney Company. For those headed to graduate school, the most frequently studied disciplines were law, business administration, medical school, accounting, and social work.

About: The HTC Tutorial Programs provide high-achieving students with flexibility to pursue their academic interests in intensive one-on-one and small-group tutorials with faculty. HTC students have few general education requirements, giving them autonomy to select courses from across the university to supplement their tutorials each semester. From tuition scholarships to financial aid for research or study abroad, students in tutorial programs have a variety of funding available to support their academic exploration

Professional Outcomes: Hundreds of Ohio University graduates are currently employed at companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide, Cardinal Health, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google, and Salesforce. The average graduate earns a starting salary of around $50k. Over half of those who earn a bachelor’s at OU go on to enroll in an advanced degree program. Graduate schools enrolling recent alumni include the University of Cincinnati, Kent State, Ohio State, and Case Western.

About: Established in 1995, The Oregon State University Honors College offers an array of benefits to enrolled students, including unique honors classes, typically 25 students or less; one-on-one mentoring by faculty members while preparing the Honors Thesis; access to unique co-curricular experiences; academic advising from HC academic advisors; and leadership involvement, through the Oregon State University Honors College Student Association (HCSA).

Professional Outcomes: Large number of College of Business alums work at companies such as Nike, Boeing, Intel, Deloitte, Oracle, KPMG, and Adidas.  Including all majors, many others work for Amazon, Salesforce, Meta, Apple, Google, and NVIDIA. An impressive 67% of those applying to medical school are accepted, a figure far higher than the national average. Med schools where recent grads now attend include Harvard, Yale, the University of Chicago, and UCLA.

About: Through interdisciplinary classes taught by our best faculty, Weber Honors students engage in challenging ideas, work side-by-side with professors, and apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Additional benefits include smaller class sizes, special academic advising support, honors housing, and access to a number of social, cultural, academic, and community-service activities organized by the college.

Professional Outcomes: At the time of receiving their degrees, roughly 75% of newly minted SDSU graduates already have their next phase of life planned. 34% of recent grads had secured full-time employment, 21% were engaged in military service/volunteer work/part-time employment, and 17% were entering graduate or professional school. Qualcomm is the largest employer of Aztec alumni, and it is followed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and a number of other Silicon Valley-based tech companies.

About: Mississippi State University’s Shackouls Honors College takes inspiration from the world-renowned Cambridge and Oxford Universities: as a residential college, students can expect high-quality accommodation, outstanding educational resources, cutting-edge facilities and dedicated support from a passionate faculty. Enrolled students have the best of both worlds: enjoying a small liberal arts college experience at a first-class research university, while having access to small seminar-style classes and unique research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Looking at 2023 grads, 93% had already landed at their first job or graduate school. The organizations employing the greatest number of recent grads were a number of local school districts as well as Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, KPMG, International Paper, Chevron, and State Farm. Those headed to graduate and professional school most often matriculated at the University of Mississippi, the University of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, the University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.

About: Founded in 1981, the University Honors College currently attracts students across 70+ majors, offering them small class sizes, special academic opportunities, dedicated faculty, and a learning community that supports and encourages intellectual curiosity and high achievement. By cultivating a small college setting that offers access to all the resources of a large research university, honors student are able to engage in rigorous coursework both in and out of their major as well as dive into experiential learning like research, internships and study abroad

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 94% of Class of 2022 School of Management degree-holders had found employment or were enrolled in a graduate program. The median base salary for those who found jobs was $55,000 (business grads only). UB graduates are well-represented in the corporate offices of many top finance, accounting, consulting, and technology companies, with more than one hundred alumni currently employed at the likes of M&T Bank, Citi, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, JPMorgan Chase, PwC, Apple, Deloitte, and Cisco.

About: The UH Honors College combines the advantages of a small community of motivated learners with the opportunities of a diverse and cosmopolitan major research university. Its intellectually challenging courses, minors and programs emphasize speaking and writing, encourage critical inquiry in disciplined conversation and promote active learning and principled leadership. Students participate in co-curricular activities such as global engagement, service learning and mentored research.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation day, 29% of recent grads had already accepted a full-time position and 11% had been accepted to graduate school. For those who entered the workforce, top employers were Houston ISD (as well as several other school systems), JPMorgan Chase, Houston Methodist, and Walgreens. Of those continuing their education, the highest percentage stayed at the University of Houston followed by the University of Texas, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M, Texas Woman’s University, and Rice.

About:  The Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University promotes academic excellence through an innovative curriculum integrated with experiential learning. Benefits include honors-only classes, honors advising, unique seminar and conversation series, exclusive scholarships, honors-only housing, and access to special professional development opportunities.  The Honors College also promotes discovery, inquiry, and creativity-based opportunities through mentored research experiences, and in particular, its Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program (HSURP).

Professional Outcomes: After earning their diplomas, 48% quickly landed their first job and 22% entered an advanced degree program. The top industries were healthcare, internet & software, higher education, government, and retail. Overall, 87% of grads were satisfied with their employment outcome and 78% remained in the state of Virginia. Massive numbers of alumni can be found in the offices of Dominion Energy, VCU Health, Capital One, CarMax, Deloitte, and Apex Systems.

About: The L&S Honors Program offers students access to small, discussion-driven courses and discussion sections led by faculty members and reserved for Honors Program students; grants to financially support research experiences, study abroad, and community leadership projects; dedicated academic advising that supports students throughout their undergraduate education; informal dinners, workshops, and presentations with faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines, and numerous social and service events.

Professional Outcomes: In a recent year, 46% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer.  Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, Kohl’s, Oracle, Deloitte, and UW Health. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Target, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, PwC, Accenture, and Meta. 28% of recent grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school; the majority stayed at UW–Madison while others headed to Columbia, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon. The university is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

About: At CSU Honors, students benefit from small, discussion-based seminars that center the student voice, creating an enriched space that prioritizes free exchange of ideas and stimulating conversation. Honors students can enrich their required major and minor classes with deeper work that allows them to collaborate one-on-one with their professors. Outside of academics in co-curricular events, Honors@CSU works diligently to help students connect with other community and campus partners, enlarging their networks and expanding their worldviews.

Professional Outcomes: Among 2022 graduates, 87% quickly secured their next job or grad school opportunity. For the 68% who landed their first job, the average salary was $57,489. Overall, 88% of those surveyed stated that this job was related to their career plans. Common employers include Charles Schwab, Deloitte, Fidelity Investments, Lockheed Martin, and the US Air Force. The most popular grad schools include CU Boulder, the University of Michigan, UIUC, and Columbia University.