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Applying to the University Honors Program

The Saint Louis University Honors Program welcomes students from all majors to apply for admission. While most students join as first-year students, current SLU students and transfer students are also invited to apply. The Honors application for incoming freshmen is available in your Billiken Gateway portal. The application deadline for the Fall 2025 cycle is December 1, 2024.

Beyond examining a student's academic record, the Saint Louis University Honors Program seeks students who are intellectually curious and who seek opportunities to take rigorous coursework and conduct original research.  The Program considers the following when evaluating applicants:

  • Extraordinary academic performance in challenging courses
  • Clear articulation of the reasons for seeking admission into the honors program and a compelling description of potential contributions to the program
  • Distinctive, diverse, and extensive leadership experience
  • Well-rounded involvement with school or community

Regardless of student type, all students are required to answer the following prompt as their essay:

The University Honors Program invites students to reflect critically on questions related to professional and academic goals, responsibilities to themselves and their communities, and an overall sense of what makes for a good life. This process of discernment often begins with an honest self-assessment — embracing certain parts of our identity and, occasionally, challenging the labels placed upon us by our families, communities, and society more broadly. For this essay, we invite you to respond to the following prompt (500 words maximum): “Although I am _____, I am not _____.”

The essay is the best means for you to share who you are with our admissions committee, so be creative and strive to write authentically. Don’t just try to write what you think we want to hear or what you think “an honors student” should say. We look forward to reading your essay.

If you have a question about the process, contact an honors staff member at 314-977-3951.

How to Apply

Incoming Freshmen

Incoming freshmen can find information on applying here.

Current Students

Requirements

  • At least one semester at Saint Louis University; students apply in their second semester at SLU
  • Minimum cumulative SLU GPA of 3.5
  • Fewer than 45 completed credit hours (not including enrolled hours)

Application Materials

  • Application form
  • Essay
  • Two letters of recommendation that comment on your academic potential, range of interests, commitment to academic excellence, and leadership potential. The most persuasive letters will come from faculty members, advisers, or other professionals qualified to speak to your academic abilities. At least one letter must be from a current SLU faculty or staff member.  Letter writers should send their letters directly to the University Honors Program at honors@slu.edu.

Timeline

  • Feb. 15: Deadline to apply for fall semester
  • April 1: Acceptance notification for fall semester
Transfer Students

Transfer students applying for fall entry can apply to the Honors Program before the fall semester begins. Students may request honors credit for up to 12 credit hours of previous honors coursework from an accredited higher education institution outside of SLU, or as part of our articulation agreement with STLCC. You will need to take at least four upper-level honors courses at SLU, including the honors senior seminar and the honors capstone. Transfer students who join SLU in the spring may apply for fall entry as a current student at SLU. Please see the above requirements for current students.

Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Fewer than 45 completed credit hours 

Application Materials

  • Transfer students applying for fall entry with fewer than 45 credit hours will apply via the Billiken Gateway Portal; transfer students who join in the spring may apply via the current student process.
  • Essay
  • Two letters of recommendation that will be included in your SLU application

Timeline

  • Aug 1: Deadline for new fall applicants
  • Feb. 15: Deadline for spring applicants to join in the following fall
  • Apr. 1: Acceptance notification for spring applicant to join the following fall
International Students
International students are encourage to apply to the Honors Program when they apply to SLU as first-time applicants for fall entry. The requirements for consideration as international students are below. Please see the directions for applying as an incoming freshman above.

Requirements

  • GPA equivalent to 3.8 on a 4.0 scale
  • English proficiency score of at least 90 on TOEFL (IBT) or 7.0 on the IELTS
Madrid Students

The application process for the SLU-Madrid campus is managed at the St. Louis campus but you can contact Sam Manka, Honors Advisor at the SLU-Madrid campus, with questions.

Requirements for Prospective Students

  • High school GPA of 3.8 or higher

Requirements for Current Students

  • Minimum GPA of 3.5
  • 45 credit hours or less

Application Materials

  • Application form
  • Essay
  • Two letters of recommendation (If you are applying as a first-year Madrid student, you may use your letters of recommendation from your general admission file. If you are a current Madrid student, at least one letter of recommendation must come from a current SLU faculty or staff member).  Letter writers should send their letters directly to the University Honors Program at honors@slu.edu if they are not part of the original SLU application.

Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You’ll be notified of acceptance within four weeks of applying.