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Students walking on campus at UMBC with colorful fall leaves on the trees

The Honors College

An academic home for students who seek intellectual challenges, our Honors College helps students like you explore and broaden your interests in a supportive community much like that at a small, liberal arts college.

About Our Program

Through small classes and interaction with faculty members, Honors College students like you flourish as readers, writers, thinkers, speakers, researchers, and active members of the UMBC community. We’ll help you realize the motto of the Honors College–discere ad vivendum (learning for living)–and become engaged, lifelong learners.

You’re invited to join the Honors College, with access to:

  • Individualized, holistic advising from the Honors College
  • Study abroad, research, conference, service learning, and internship opportunities
  • An opportunity to spend your first year in the Honors College Living Learning Community
  • Small, engaging, interdisciplinary Honors College classes and enriched versions of regular classes exclusively for Honors College students
  • On-campus social events and off-campus cultural experiences and day-trips in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere
students on their laptops and listening to an instructor

Eligibility and Support

Am I Eligible For the Program?

Honors College admission is open to first-year and transfer students as well as current students. To be considered you must apply to both UMBC and to the Honors College.

How We Support Our Scholars

500+

engaged, diverse, and curious peers, who will enrich your UMBC journey

Small Seminars

in which students and faculty work closely together on some of today’s most pressing issues, concerns, and ideas

Application Deadlines

November 1
  • Early Action Deadline (First-Year)
  • Decision letters for Early Action applicants are sent beginning in December
  • Honors College Priority Decision Deadline
  • Decisions released separately
February 1
  • Regular Decision Deadline (First-Year)
  • Decision letters for regular applicants are sent beginning in February
  • Honors College Regular Decision Deadline
  • Decisions released separately

The deadlines above are for application and admission to this scholars program only.
We strongly recommend submitting your application to UMBC by the Early Action or Priority deadline.

UMBC's Library

Meet an Honors College Student

Gabby Khan, Senior, Computer Science

Our students are unique, but they also have a lot in common! UMBC presents various avenues for students to explore their interests and find their crowd.

UMBC's campus in the fall, featuring students sitting below a golden tree shedding its leaves

Our Scholars make a Difference

As an Honors College student, you’ll participate in service learning during your first year in the program, making a difference in our Greater Baltimore community.

Many Honors College students continue on with this work beyond their first year and for some it’s been the inspiration for founding new ventures. Honors College students are also often campus leaders, serving in student government or the Honors College Council. And our most distinguished program alumni have earned the nation’s most prestigious academic awards.