Become an Eagle Scholar
Honors students are “interested in everything” and strive for excellence. We seek students who value strong academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, leadership and engagement, and a mission to serve God and others.
Eagle Scholars Honors Program
If you are looking for a collegiate community that will broaden your intellectual horizons, deepen your Christian faith, and reward your academic strengths, Northwestern’s Eagle Scholars Honor Program may be for you.
Students New to Northwestern
If you are applying to attend Northwestern as a traditional student, please follow the process below:
1. Submit your Application for Admission to Northwestern. This application must be completed early in the fall of your senior year of high school. You must be admitted to Northwestern and be at least 15 years old to be eligible to apply for the Honors Program.
2. Send us your scores and transcripts. Make sure that your ACT, SAT, or CLT scores as well as your high school transcripts have been sent to Northwestern. Students may apply to the Honors Program if they have a composite ACT composite score of 27 or higher, an SAT score of 1330 or higher, a CLT score of 88 or higher, OR an unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.75 with evidence of advanced study (college preparatory curriculum, AP coursework, early college/concurrent enrollment/Post-Secondary Enrollment Option, etc.).
3. Complete the Honors Program application process. We ask all applicants to write an essay reflecting on a current event and to submit two samples of their scholarly work. You can download instructions for these materials here: Instructions for 2024-2025 Honors Program Application Materials.
4. Complete the application questionnaire and upload your Honors Program application materials. The application questionnaire asks for basic contact information as well as a listing of advanced coursework you have taken. Applications will open on October 1. To receive fullest consideration for membership in the Eagle Scholars Honors Program, application materials must be received by the priority deadline of 11:59 p.m CST. on Monday, November 6, 2023. Applications will continue to be accepted until 11:59 p.m CST. on Friday, December 1, 2023, for consideration on a space-available basis.
First Year Students
Northwestern also offers a Current Student Opportunity to allow students who are in their first year as a traditional student at Northwestern to apply for admission into the Eagle Scholars Honors Program. (Students who are taking PSEO/Early College courses at Northwestern should apply through the regular application process listed above.)
To be eligible to apply, you must do the following during your first year as a traditional student at Northwestern:
- Complete a minimum of 30 credits in the Northwestern traditional undergraduate program
- Maintain a Northwestern GPA of 3.9 or higher
- Take at least four honors courses from at least three different disciplines
- Attend at least six Honors Seminar events
- Attend Northwestern for at least two more years as a traditional student
The application process for the Current Student Opportunity begins in April of each academic year.
If you are interested in this opportunity, email honorsprogram@unwsp.edu to receive more information and notifications about honors activities.
There's more to the Honors program than just the scholarship.
Eagle Scholars enjoy these opportunities:
- Enjoy friendships with like-minded students
- Work one-on-one with a professor/mentor
- Conduct individual research in advanced topics
- Present at the Minnesota Collegiate Honors Symposium
- Have permission to register early for classes each semester
- Take challenging and stimulating honors courses
- Gain preparation for graduate school, internships, and jobs
- Assemble a competitive resume based upon experience
- Sharpen critical thinking, argumentation, and presentation skills
- Receive special recognition at graduation
- Receive transcript notation showing graduation from an honors program
Eagle Scholars are involved in a variety of activities while they are in the Honors Program, including the following:
- Honors Seminar. Eagle Scholars share their scholarly projects, report and discuss recent world events, practice their argumentation skills, enjoy outdoor small-group discussions during Walking and Talking sessions, attend professional development sessions, go on field trips, and share time for devotion and prayer. Eagle Scholars participate in fifteen hours of Honors Seminar opportunities per semester and can select which sessions they attend.
- Honors Courses. Northwestern offers a range of stimulating honors courses, many of which satisfy Core Curriculum requirements. Honors courses have smaller class sizes, emphasize discussion, provide opportunities for in-depth research, and allow students to engage at a more advanced level.
- Honors Components. Upper-level Eagle Scholars undertake independent research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
- Minnesota Collegiate Honors Symposium. Eagle Scholars and other honors students from across Minnesota present their research at this Northwestern-sponsored academic conference, held each spring. Eagle Scholars serve as the conference staff.
Challenging Honors Courses
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During my years as an Eagle Scholar, I was pushed to a higher standard of achievement, learned the value of applied learning, conducted research pertinent to my field of study, and had the opportunity to present my research in a way that helped form my public speaking skills.
Abigail Bawden
Graduate
My first year as an eagle scholar has pushed me to be better and has given me a lot of confidence in my own ability as a student. It has started me on the right path for applying to medical school, and it has shown me the value that good critical thinking skills can bring to a conversation.
Dominick J.
The Honors Program community extends beyond those who are currently enrolled. Achievement of graduates inspires me to pursue ambitious goals. The accolades and adventures of alumni are many and diverse–awards, jobs at prestigious companies, publications, enrollment in graduate programs, company startups, and cross-cultural experiences. I am inspired by their success.
Elizabeth Donaldson
My experience in the Honors Program has broadened my horizons in all areas of life. I learned and practiced different methods of defending my faith, I began critically analyzing world events, and I became interested in everything.
Josiah O.
Eagle Scholars Honors Scholarship
Northwestern's honors program is designed to challenge high-ability students to greater academic achievement. To apply, new students admitted to Northwestern must have an ACT composite score of 28 or higher, an SAT score of 1330 or higher, a CLT score of 88 or higher, OR a high school GPA of at least 3.90 with evidence of advanced study (college preparatory curriculum, AP coursework, early college/concurrent enrollment/Post-Secondary Enrollment Option, etc.).
Applications are due November 1. The scholarship is renewable annually with successful involvement in the Honors Program, including a cumulative college GPA of 3.65 or higher.
See more scholarship information.
Eagle Scholars Honors Frequently Asked Questions
How many students are there in the program?
We usually have about 60 Eagle Scholars (freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors). Often a few Eagle Scholars are studying abroad for a semester, so everyone may not be on campus at the same time.
What is the workload in comparison to that of a typical student's load?
Honors students do work a bit harder in their classes, but they do so because that is the reason they came to college. Generally, the work associated with an honors class is different, not necessarily more. The Eagle Scholars are able to maintain their social life and participate in extra-curricular activities and ministry on top of their school work.
Is it extremely difficult to keep a 3.65 GPA?
Most Eagle Scholars do not have difficulty with this requirement. The average GPA for those in the program is 3.9.
Are Eagle Scholars still able to be involved in other activities around campus like choir, drama, sports, etc.?
Over half of the Eagle Scholars are involved in music on campus, and others have been on a sports team and in drama productions. Many of the Eagle Scholars work as TAs for professors, some are RAs, and others do various ministries. The majority of them, if not all of them, participate in extra-curricular activities.
If I am accepted, do I need to re-apply for the program next year?
No. Once you are accepted into the Eagle Scholars Honors Program, you are a part of the program for the duration of your stay at University of Northwestern on the condition that you maintain a GPA of 3.65 and meet the Seminar requirements.
When I take honors courses, am I taking extra classes?
Honors courses are different versions of courses included in our Core Curriculum. You are required to take these core courses, so taking the honors form of the class does not add to your scheduled number of credits. You will never take all honors classes any given semester.
How do honors classes differ from regular classes?
Honors classes differ from regular classes in that they are smaller, they involve more discussion of issues, they challenge students to think on a higher level, and they tend to offer more learning experiences.
What are honors components?
All Eagle Scholars must complete at least one honors component. Also, honors components are taken when an upper-class Eagle Scholar has a scheduling conflict and cannot be enrolled in available honors courses. A component is generally completed in a class within a student’s major or minor field of study. The exact requirements will vary depending on the course, but the component is often a specialized research project supervised by the student’s professor. A typical component will require 20 to 25 hours of work in addition to what is assigned for the class. Students present their completed components to fellow Eagle Scholars in Seminar sessions.
If I am not accepted into the program, can I apply again?
Yes. To be eligible to apply after your first year, a student
- must have completed a minimum of 30 credits in the day-school program
- must have maintained a GPA of 3.9 or higher
- must have taken at least four honors courses from at least three different disciplines by the end of their first year in a day-school program at UNW
- must have attended at least six Honors Seminar events during first year at UNW
- must attend UNW for a least three years in a day-school program
If I am not accepted, can I still take honors courses?
Yes. Honors courses are open to any student who has an ACT score of at least 27, a college GPA of no less than 3.6, or the consent of the instructor. Enrollment and completion of an honors course will appear on your transcript, and you may refer to the fact that you took honors courses in college on application letters for graduate schools and for employment positions.
What kind of opportunities do Eagle Scholars get?
- Eagle Scholars have conducted cutting-edge research on nanoscience with the Center for Nanointegration at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Essen, Germany.
- Eagle Scholars have received Fulbright Scholarships to teach overseas.
- Several Eagle Scholars have interned at the Minnesota State Capitol.
What have Eagle Scholars achieved after graduation?
- Received a paid summer position studying biochemistry and cell biology for the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.
- Won Best Student Film from the International Christians in Visual Media.
- Eagle Scholars are employed at: 3M, Boston Scientific, MagnetStreet, Minnesota Medical Association, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sheboygan Press, Target Corporation, and many more!
- Eagle Scholars have been accepted at top graduate schools, including: Stanford, Oxford, UCLA, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of St. Thomas, University of Toronto, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Denver Seminary, and more.
