First-Year Student Admissions
The information which follows is for prospective students applying for admission to Pitt for Fall 2023.
The Frederick Honors College is competitive. We accept about 600 students each year into the Frederick Honors College and the Honors Degree program.
Prospective students may apply to the Frederick Honors College through the regular University of Pittsburgh application process, Common App, or Coalition App.
If you choose to apply, you'll be asked to answer the following essay question:
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Explain why and how you would change it. Responses should be stated in 500 words or less.
Admitted students get:
- Admission into the Honors Degree program.
- A notation on your transcript as soon as you're admitted, and a jointly-conferred degree from the Frederick Honors College and your primary academic school upon completion of the Honors Degree requirements.
- Priority course registration beginning with your first spring term of enrollment.
- Priority access to the first-year Honors housing community (Honors LLC). Keep in mind that Honors housing placement is not guaranteed.
- A flexible Frederick Honors College experience where you also have access to Honors Scholar Mentors to help you tailor the most advantageous path for your interests.
The deadline for first-year students to apply to the Frederick Honors College is December 1.
Things to consider:
- Although we don’t have minimum SAT/ACT requirements, our average student has a 1450-1500 SAT and/or 32-33 ACT as well as a 3.80 unweighted GPA.
- Unlike many other honors colleges, most of our programs (like our fellowships and courses) are open to all undergraduates—so you can still participate if you aren't admitted to the degree program. If you don't get in your first year, you can also re-apply at the end of your first or second year.
- The Frederick Honors College application will be test (SAT/ACT) optional.
Frederick Honors College applicants will be notified on or before March 1, 2023.
Apply now »
Frederick Honors College Virtual Info Sessions
Virtual information sessions are offered weekly with dates and times found on the Pitt Admissions website. Register here (under the Daily Visit Options registration menu.)
Interested in a 1-on-1 meeting? Contact our Assistant Director of Admissions, Matt Schultz, at mas216@pitt.edu.
Upper-division Admissions
The Frederick Honors College admits a limited number of upper-division Pitt students (including transfer students from a regional campus) into its degree program.
Requirements include the following:
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.50
- A minimum of 2 semesters (24 credits)
- Complete one essay prompt (PDF)
- Submit a letter of recommendation from an instructor or academic advisor
Applications for upper-division students will open in the spring for the following academic year. Follow the link below to begin the application process.
Apply as an upper-division student.
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Transfer Admissions
Transfer students from other institutions can apply for the Frederick Honors College degree program as part of their regular application to Pitt. The application will consider your academic performance, as well as your answers to additional essay questions about your interest in working for the public good, and intellectual curiosity. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
