Ron and Laura Strain Honors College

Acquiring Knowledge Through Self-Discovery

For those who Want To Take THeir Education To The Next Level

At UIndy, the Honors College is an academic offering of classes and experiences designed to enrich students’ education and inspire an extraordinary undergraduate foundation. If you’re a student looking for a more intellectual challenge, consider joining the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College.

We prepare students to become engaged citizens and successful professionals. Our alumni are doctors, scientists, engineers, teachers, community leaders, business professionals and more. Whatever your dreams, you will graduate fully prepared for your next steps. The Honors College brings together a community of students and faculty devoted to the love of learning, career preparation, and pursuing life’s most important questions inside and outside the classroom.

As an Honors student, you can enhance your education with thought-provoking courses, independent study, and leadership and service opportunities. You’ll engage in scholarship under the guidance of a faculty member for a unique Honors project capstone of your choosing and exchange ideas with other outstanding students.

At commencement, you'll graduate with distinction, a lifelong representation of the outstanding accomplishments you achieved through your scholarly pursuits within your chosen field of study.

Honors College is open to all majors

UIndy's Honors College is open to high-achieving students no matter their undergraduate major. The “Honors Concentration” is similar to a minor, meaning you can shape this challenge around your academic goals.

All entering students are welcome to apply to join the Strain Honors College. Admittance is determined based on your performance at your previous institution and your response to a short essay question.

The Benefits of the Honors College

The Honor College provides its students many benefits, including:

  • Early registration for classes – Even a day can make all the difference in getting into popular classes
  • Access to Honors Student Lounge in Esch Hall
  • The opportunity to live in the Honors LLC, a dorm floor dedicated specifically to honors students
  • Guidance and support with pursuing scholarship and fellowship opportunities
  • Leadership, networking, and community-building opportunities in the Honors Student Association
  • Opportunities to present your work in spaces like the UIndy Scholars Showcase (which is required for students doing their Honors Projects) or even at one of the NCHC’s Annual Conferences
  • Access to funding for travel during spring term or summer semesters

Connecting Students with Research Opportunities

The Honors College works with other University programs to serve its students, like the Research Fellows Program! Select students who earned distinguished admission are invited to work on research projects with the guidance of faculty mentors in their first two years of college as they gain paid research experience. Not only do Research Fellows earn paid experience through performing research, but they are also provided opportunities to do things such as attend workshops and present their work to academic audiences.

Support Honors College Students Today!

The Ron and Laura Strain Honors College has seen its graduates increase by 400% in the last seven years! Help us build our endowment to provide students with additional research opportunities, international travel experiences, conferences, and student-faculty collaboration. It’s a great time to give!

male student looking at books in the library

What Honors Students are Doing

Read stories and watch videos to see what our honors students are doing.

female student giving a poster presentation

Honors Project

Each student enrolled in the Honors College completes an Honors Project to cap off the program.

Honors College Executive Director Jim Williams with a male student in graduation cap and gown

Nationally Competitive Awards

We help students and alumni find, apply for, and earn grants and scholarships.