NIU Honors Program: Your Transfer-Friendly Advantage
Thinking about transferring?
The NIU University Honors Program is designed with YOU in mind. We make it easy to continue your honors journey and graduate with distinction. We value the academic work you’ve already completed and invite you to join a community of dedicated peers. Here, you’ll pursue rigorous coursework, gain hands-on experience through research, internships and community engagement and graduate with distinction.
Testimonial
I definitely contact my academic and honors advisors to see what is available to me as a transfer student. They are the best resources to ask questions when I have an inquiry about a class and how that may impact my transfer status.Grace McMillan, kinesiology
Why Choose NIU Honors as a Transfer Student?
NIU's honors program is built around what you need to succeed as a transfer student. Here's how we support you:
- Dedicated Transfer Pathway – Flexible options to fit your timeline.
- Peer Mentor Support – Every transfer student gets a mentor to help you succeed.
- Credit for Prior Honors Work – Honors courses and experiences from your previous college can count toward NIU Honors.
- Experiential Learning Counts – Activities you’ve already completed in college may fulfill Honors Engaged requirements.
- Associate Honors Option – Perfect for students with limited time before graduation.
- Capstone Opportunity – Work one-on-one with faculty on a project (optional).
Flexible Options
You can choose the honors track that best fits your schedule and graduation timeline. Your transfer credits count toward either option:
- Associate University Honors: Transfer Up to 3 courses or experiences.
- Full University Honors: Transfer up to 6 courses or experiences.
We’ll guide you through the process. Many honors courses are identified automatically from your transcript. If any additional courses aren't captured in that review, we'll help you gather the documentation needed to ensure they count.
Financial Support for Transfer Students
NIU is committed to affordability alongside academic excellence. As a transfer student, you’ll have access to:
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship
Are you a member of PTK at your community college? You may qualify for a $1,000 scholarship in your first year at NIU.
Additional Transfer Scholarships
NIU offers several other scholarships for transfer students, including our transfer merit scholarships and community college honors scholarships. Explore these transfer scholarship opportunities on our Financial Aid website.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities
Getting Started
Step 1: Apply to NIU. We have resources and services tailored specifically to support your transfer experience. Almost half of our students start as transfers, so you're joining an established community.
Step 2: Once admitted to NIU, apply to our NIU Honors Program.
Questions? Email honors@niu.edu
Contact Us
University Honors Program
Peters Campus Life Building 110
DeKalb, IL 60115