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Division of Academic and Student Affairs 
University Honors Program

Admissions Criteria for High School Seniors

Who can apply?

We encourage all students interested in the University Honors Program to apply. 

Admission is not automatic. Students are required to respond to additional program-specific essay questions for the University Honors Program as they apply to NC State. These questions are integrated into the NC State application. 

Admission is based on the assessment of your potential for exceptional academic work and understanding of the program requirements. Primarily this is done by evidence of creativity, initiative, and aspirations for academic excellence as described in your application essays. Secondarily, the programs consider SAT/ACT scores (when available), high school grades, the rigor of courses taken in high school, class rank (when available).

Application Timeline:

Early Action

  • Students have until January 3, 2025 to submit their University Honors Program application (NC State Early Action deadline: November 1).
  • Students who are admitted to NC State University in January will receive a decision about the University Honors Program admission by February 23, 2025.

Regular Decision

  • Students have until February 23, 2025, to submit their University Honors Program application (NC State Regular Decision deadline: January 15).
  • Students who are admitted to NC State University in March will receive a decision about the University Honors Program by April 4, 2025.

Students applying to the University through the Common Application can apply to the Honors Program within that application OR in their wolfPAW account. Students applying to the University using the Coalition application must apply to the Honors Program exclusively through their wolfPAW account.

Common Application Users: If you select “yes” to apply to UHP, you’ll need to complete the UHP application before submitting your Common Application. If you select “no”, you can still apply later through your wolfPAW account.

Coalition Application Users: Apply to UHP only through your wolfPAW account by the February 23 deadline.

Note: The UHP application is the same whether you apply through the Common Application or later via wolfPAW. The timing of when you submit it does not change the content of the application.

Note: After submitting your NC State application, it can take up to 24 hours to process to wolfPAW. The UHP application will not appear immediately after you submit your NC State application.

We encourage you to review the Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you have questions about the application process, please email our main office at university_honors@ncsu.edu.