There are so many reasons to apply to the South Carolina Honors College. Here are just a few:

• Nearly 600 courses offered each year, ranging from honors versions of traditional subjects like biology and English to our signature “cool courses” like The Development of Modern Medicine and Artificial Intelligence and Shakespeare.
• Priority advisement and course registration.
• Research opportunities available only to Honors College students beginning your freshman year.
• Average class size of just 18 students.
• Opportunity to design your own major through the honors BARSC degree program.
• Special early admission to pre-med and pre-law programs.

Many students entering the Honors College have already earned college credits through various advanced placement programs. While these credits do not count directly towards honors requirements, they can be beneficial in many ways:

• Credit recognition: The Honors College recognizes credits earned through advanced placement programs such as AP, IB and CLEP). These credits can contribute to a student’s overall degree progress, even if they don’t fulfill specific honors requirements.
• Course placement: Advanced placement credits often serve as prerequisites for higher-level honors courses. This allows students to enter more advanced coursework in their areas of study.
• Curriculum flexibility: By fulfilling general education requirements or lower-level courses in a major, AP and other credits can create a space in a student’s schedule. This flexibility enables students to pursue a more challenging and diverse honors curriculum. By recognizing pre-college credits while maintaining rigorous honor-specific requirements, the Honors College allows students to maximize their academic potential and tailor their educational experience to their individual strengths and interests.

A senior thesis is required to graduate with honors from the Honors College. We encourage students to view this requirement as more than a research paper; it’s an opportunity to explore your passions through an academic lens. The thesis can take various forms, reflecting the diverse interests and creativity of our students:

• Some have traveled the United States, investigating the concept of success and presenting their findings as documentaries.
• Others have explored artistic pursuits, composing original music and authoring novels.
• Many students have conducted in-depth research in their chosen fields and presented their work at national conferences, enhancing the value and reach of their thesis project.

Additionally, the Honors College often provides funding for these projects, enabling students to pursue ambitious ideas. This experience allows students to demonstrate their expertise, creativity, and academic growth in a meaningful and often groundbreaking way.

No. To apply to the Honors College, you must first complete and submit the general university application followed by the South Carolina Honors College application, which will be available 24-48 hours of submitting your university application. Both applications are reviewed by the University of South Carolina Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

For questions on how to apply, please reach out to our Scholar Recruitment team at admhonor@mailbox.sc.edu.

The middle 50% of students admitted to the South Carolina Honors College have an SAT score between 1430-1530* or an ACT composite score between 32-35*. On average, students admitted to the Honors College were in the top 5% of their high school class and had an average weighted GPA of 4.5-.51.

*Note: SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission consideration.

Students who have completed no more than 45 credit hours while enrolled at an institution of higher education, including the University of South Carolina, and have a minimum 3.6 GPA in all college work attempted may apply for transfer admission to the Honors College. The 45-credit hour limit does not include AP and/or IB credit hours or hours earned for college courses taken while enrolled in high school. Please note that admission to the Honors College is very competitive.

For more information about transferring into the Honors College, click here.

All students admitted to the South Carolina Honors College will receive a merit-based scholarship from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Scholarship offers will be released by mid-March. You will receive an email and an update in your USC Admissions Portal when your scholarship offer has been released.

Invitations to virtually interview for the Top Scholar Program were released in late January.

We have released a limited number of decisions for honors applicants in December. The remaining Honors College applicants will receive a decision by mid-February.

We are unable to accept additional information as part of your Honors College application. All honors applicants will receive a final decision by mid-February.

Appeals are intended for students who can provide justification of any academic or personal circumstances that were not considered at the time the original decision was rendered, or if there was a substantive error in the initial review of the student’s application. If you would like to appeal your Honors College decision, submit the form at https://apply.sc.edu/register/schcappeal by March 31, 2025.