Ranking Public University Honors Programs

Aug 18, 2011
John Willingham

University of Delaware - College Prowler

Rankings of public university honors programs are elusive. This one is based on value, reputation, retention and graduation rates, and admissions.

Many prospective college students with high GPAs and stellar test scores rightly believe that they are smart enough to succeed at the nation’s most elite private colleges, but they are often rejected.

Often, these students apply to at least one of the most prestigious state universities as a “backup” plan in case their dream of entering one of the the elite private schools does not come to fruition.

Look Beyond the Elite Publics, Too

Increasingly, entry into Berkeley, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, and UCLA is not assured for top students. Berkeley does not have a special honors program, but the other elite publics have good ones. Fortunately, similar financial support and sometimes better admission possibilities exist at state universities ranked just below the top public colleges. The good news is that these universities also offer robust honors programs that provide an education as good as that offered by the elites.

Admission to these programs is, however, also very selective. A typical applicant should have a high school GPA in the 4.0 range and an SAT total of at least 1950. One more thing: the essay required by many of these programs must be creative, thoughtful, original, and distinctive. The effort will pay off with more small classes, greater individual attention, honors residence communities, research opportunities, and priority registration.

It is difficult to find a reliable ranking of public university honors programs. Some programs have been around for more than 75 years (University of Texas at Austin); some have major alumni donations behind them (Penn State); and others have both money and a relatively high number of openings (Arizona State). There is a site that contains a lot of public honors data.

Four Important Criteria

The public university honors programs discussed below meet four important criteria for the university as a whole, not just the honors program: (1) a ranking of at least 75 in the U.S. News annual survey; (2) a ranking of at least 45 (in-state cost) on the Kiplinger “Best Values in Public Colleges” list; a freshman retention rate of at least 80 percent; and a six-year graduation rate of 70 percent or better.

Graduation rates for students at these universities who complete the honors program are 90 percent or better, and in only four years, not six.

Using both the U. S. News and Kiplinger rankings analyzes return on investment and reputation with more specificity than the Kiplinger rankings alone. The retention rate is an important indicator of student satisfaction and achievement. The six-year graduation rate takes into consideration the longer time often needed for graduation for students in state universities who have less financial support from parents or wealthy private institutions.

The reputation of a university is especially important if a student does not complete the honors program, because the degree will still be extremely valuable.

Some consideration has been given to geographical representation, moving from west to east. A list of ten additional colleges that meet the criteria appears at the end of the article.

The University of Washington

Located in the beautiful city of Seattle, UW enrolls about 220 honors students each year. They have the option of living in residential honors communities in McMahon Hall or the freshman-only Lander Hall. UW ranks 42 in the U.S. News survey; 10 in the Kiplinger rankings; retains 84 percent of freshmen; and graduates 79 percent in six years. The average high school GPA is 3.92, and the average SAT is 2070. Students must take at least 17 honors credits. Honors students are among those at UW who are eligible for a Bonderman Travel Fellowship, which pays up to $20,000 for at least eight months of travel, covering at least six countries.

The University of Texas at Austin

Of the six honors programs offered at UT-Austin, the one best known nationally is the Plan II Honors Program, begun in 1935. About 165 students are admitted to Plan II each year. Students have honors residential options. UT-Austin ranks 45th in the U.S. News survey, 14 in Kiplinger’s, retains 92 percent of freshmen, and graduates 81 percent of students. The Plan II program differs from most honors offerings because Plan II is a major in itself, although students can take sufficient courses to also have the equivalent of a traditional major. The average SAT total is 2059. The GPA is in the 4.0 range, but Plan II places great emphasis on the essay and on other evidence of creativity and curiosity.

The University of Indiana

Indiana University in Bloomington is a distinguished state university but has flexible requirements for admission to the large Hutton Honors College. A student will receive an automatic invitation if he or she satisfies any one of these three options:

31 ACT or 1350-1380 SAT and 3.95 or top 5% class rank.
32-33 ACT or 1390-1460 SAT and 3.90 GPA or top 7.5% class rank.
34-36 ACT or 1470+ SAT and 3.85 GPA or top 10% class rank.

HHC is a large honors college, admitting up to 900 students a year. The college has residential communities with international, thematic, and “living/learning” options. IU is ranked 75th by U.S News and 30th by Kiplinger. The freshman retention rate is 89 percent, and the graduation rate is 74 percent.

The University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia, home of the state’s flagship university, is widely recognized as one of the nation’s best college towns. About 525 students are admitted to its highly-regarded honors program each year. The standards are high: the average GPA is 4.06, and the average SAT (two-part) is 1471. Students have to take a high number of honors sections—nine at least—and maintain a 3.4 GPA to remain in the program. There is a “magnet” honors residence hall that accommodates 250 freshmen. U.S. News ranks UGA at number 62, and Kiplinger’s ranks the university’s value at a strong number 8 nationally. The freshman retention rate is 94 percent; the graduation rate is 79 percent.

The University of Delaware

Significantly smaller than the other universities discussed, UD has a great location (in Newark, Delaware) that is close to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Chartered in 1833, it is one of the oldest state universities. UD has 18,000 undergraduates, and the honors program enrolled 466 freshmen in 2010. Freshmen honors students are housed together in the Russell Complex on East Campus, an excellent location that is a short walk from the University's Morris Library. The middle 50 percent of SAT scores range from 2010 to 2170, but there is not a rigid minimum requirement: 65 percent of applicants with scores higher than 1950 were admitted. The middle 50 percent range for GPA is 3.76—4.0. UD is tied for number 75 in the U.S. News rankings, and is number 29 in value according to Kiplinger. The freshman retention rate is 89 percent, and the graduation rate is 75 percent.

Penn State University

Known for its football teams, Penn State has emerged as a strong national university, ranking number 45 in the U.S. News survey. The Kiplinger value ranking is 44. Strongly funded because of a $30 million gift, the Schreyer Honors College enrolls students with an average SAT of 2070 and average GPA of 4.0, but there is no absolute minimum requirement. Two residence halls anchor the “living/learning community” of honors students. Undergraduate research opportunities abound. Since the program began, all first-year-entering scholars applying to law, medical and veterinary school have been accepted. PSU has a freshman retention rate of 93 percent, and a graduation rate of 85 percent.

These outstanding honors programs are not the only ones that meet the criteria listed above. Four of the University of California campuses qualify. The University of Florida (U.S News ranking of 58, Kiplinger ranking number 2) and the University of Maryland (U.S. News 55, Kiplinger 5) have honors programs. The University of Pittsburgh (U.S. News 58, Kiplinger 28) and the University of Connecticut (U.S. News 58, Kiplinger 32) also qualify, as do the University of Wisconsin (U.S. News 42, Kiplinger 9, and Ohio State University, (U.S. News 55, Kiplinger 38) .