What's the Honors Program?
The Honors Program at CT State provides students with academic enrichment in addition to their associate degree program. Throughout the cohort-based program, Honors students hone the academic, professional and interpersonal skills necessary for transfer and future academic and career success. Honors students benefit from a lower-than-average teacher-to-student ratio, close faculty mentoring, special programming, independent study opportunities and access to unique opportunities and scholarships. The Honors Program is flexible enough to fit with most degree programs and students can use Honors Program courses to fulfill general education requirements. Students have the option of completing a two-year program or a 1.5-year program.
What are the Benefits of the Honors Program?
- Rigorous coursework to challenge you academically
- Smaller classes that allow for more individual attention from professors
- Access to classes and resources at our 4-year institutional partners (e.g. Wesleyan)
- Opportunities to transfer to competitive four-year institutions including Yale, Wesleyan, Trinity College, Muhlenberg College, Boston University, etc. typically with scholarships
- Higher retention and graduation rates
- Peer-bonding within cohort
- Close mentoring/assistance with the transfer process
- Scholarships
- Special programming to develop academic, leadership and professional skills
- Field trips
Who's Eligible for the Honors Program?
- Incoming First-Year Student: Minimum 3.25 high school GPA or top 10% of HS class or 25 ACT or 500 Reading/Writing AND 500 Math SAT
- Current Students: Eligible to apply at the end of the first semester if you have a minimum 3.25 CT State GPA
Minimum Requirements for Graduating from the CT State Honors Program
- Maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.25
- CCS 1001H – College & Career Success Honors (only required if student begins the honors program in their first semester)
- ENG 1010H – Composition Honors* or ENG 1020H –Composition II & Literature Honors*
- At least 1 other honors Course* (e.g., General Psychology I Honors – PSY 1011H, several history courses, and coming soon: Public Speaking Honors – COMM 1301 and Intro to Environmental Science Honors – ENV 1010)
- Capstone Project/Independent Study Course (ex. HNRS 2002)
*Students may take these courses as “honors by contract.” [hyperlink to a page on honors by contract]
Student Testimonials
Mukshud Ahamed graduated with an associate degree in Biotechnology and transferred to Wesleyan University as an Etherington Scholar. He is now completing a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at Stonybrook University.
"The honors program at MxCC* allowed me to challenge myself academically and professionally and was essential in my transfer to Wesleyan University on a full scholarship. Students like me, who underperformed in high school, deserve as many chances as they require to reach their full potential. The honors program and beyond at MxCC* provide such opportunities."
Manahil Khan transferred to the University of Hartford with a Merit Scholarship. Since earning her bachelor’s degree at UHart, she has been working her way up the ladder at Stanley Black and Decker, currently holding a position as a senior analyst.
"The honors program helped me realize my full potential as a student. It helped me to develop great connections and without the help of my professors who ran the program, I don’t think I would have ended up going to the University of Hartford and I wouldn’t have become as confident.”
Dante Petruzziello earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and then transferred to Yale on a Yale Scholarship, beginning medical school in Fall 2024.
“I am very grateful for the personal and professional growth I’ve achieved due to the Honors Program; it really is a gem within the already special place of Middlesex Community College*.”
*now CT State Middlesex