Admissions and Benefits
Honors Program Admissions
If you are interested in starting with us as a freshman in Fall 2024, please take the following steps:
- Apply to the university.
APPLY NOW TO NJCU
- Complete your FAFSA (or FAFSA alternative).
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- Apply to the Honors Program. Please check back for our Honors 2024 link, coming soon!
Transfer Admissions
The NJCU Honors Program is open to transfer students, with limited spots available. You must first apply and be admitted to NJCU, at which point you can apply to the Honors Program using the process below. Applications are accepted each spring for students who will begin at NJCU their sophomore fall (30-59 completed credits) or junior fall (60-89 completed credits.) Students who will begin senior fall are not eligible, because there is not enough time to complete the required Honors Core before graduation.
If you are admitted as a transfer student, you will be required to take some but not all of the Honors Core courses. If you enter NJCU with up to 24 credits earned you are required to take seven 3-credit Honors Core courses, totaling 21 credits. The seven courses are: HON 175, HON 201, HON 202, one HON 200-level elective, two HON 300-level electives, and HON 460 (or BUSI 555 for Business students).
If you are entering NJCU with more than 24 credits earned, you are required to take only six 3-credit Honors Core courses, totaling 18 credits. These six courses are: HON 201, HON 202, one HON 200-level elective, two HON 300-level electives, and HON 460 (or BUSI 555 for Business students).
Please be mindful that these six or seven courses are required, and waivers will not be granted. If there is not a smooth path for you to complete major requirements and the Honors Core without delaying graduation, we advise you not to join the Honors Program. Consultations about this are available with Dr. Nir (Honors@njcu.edu).
Admissions for current NJCU students
Current NJCU students who are not in the Honors Program but exhibit outstanding academic performance are welcome to apply for admission, using the process below. Spots are limited, admissions is competitive, and successful applicants will tend to have very high GPAs (e.g. 3.7+). Applications will be accepted each spring for students who aspire to begin in the Honors Program their sophomore fall (30-59 completed credits) or junior fall (60-89 completed credits). You cannot apply to join Honors in your senior fall.
If admitted, you will have your General Education courses evaluated for Honors equivalencies, and will be informed of how many remaining courses in the Honors Core are required. The minimum is six 3-credit Honors Core courses, totaling 18 credits. These six courses are: HON 201, HON 202, one HON 200-level elective, two HON 300-level electives, and HON 460 (or BUSI 555 for Business students). If you do not have a smooth path for completing your major and the Honors Core requirements without delaying graduation, we advise you not to join the Honors Program. Consultations about this are available with Dr. Nir (Honors@njcu.edu).
Application Process: Transfer and Existing NJCU Students
If you decide to apply, please obtain a PDF copy of your transcript for college courses taken so far.
Applications are due by Friday, March 15, 2024.
For more information, email Honors@njcu.edu.
Benefits
As a member of the Honors Program, each entering freshman student will receive the following benefits and opportunities:
- Generous Honors Scholarship – The scholarship is renewable for eight semesters as long as the student remains in the Honors Program and is in good standing.
- A university-supported transformative co-curricular experience.
- Dedicated academic advisors to guide you in your college studies and coursework.
- Unique faculty and peer mentorship.
- Special Honors programming and events.
- Access to our Honors lounges.
- Priority registration.
Honors scholars enjoy the challenges and rewards of working closely with distinguished faculty in small, interactive courses and on scholarly research projects. Beyond the classroom, Honors scholars engage in a variety of community activities that prepare them to become innovative leaders in their chosen professions.
Although the Honors Scholarship does not cover room and board, Honors students do get priority admission to Residence Life’s enhanced dormitory experience: the leadership Living and Learning Community. Please also note that the Honors Scholarship replaces previous NJCU scholarship offers when a student joins the Honors Program. Students cannot receive multiple scholarships.