The Honors fee provides meaningful privileges and a unique Honors experience that extends well beyond the classroom.
Whether it's through honors-only courses and programs, study abroad scholarships or even career and professional development workshops, your Honors fee is hard at work.
HOW MUCH IS IT?
Beginning in Fall 2021, the Honors fee is $475 per semester.
HOW IT’S USED
The fee money is used only for activities, programs, classes and staff positions that directly benefit honors students.
Since the implementation of the fee in fall 2010, the Honors College has created an advising team; launched the first-year experience; established new opportunities in research, internships, and study abroad; created new courses, and much more. Today, the Honors Fee supports a broad array of classes, programs, funding, and activities that directly support our students. Without this fee, the W.A. Franke Honors College could not sustain the value of an honors education and degree.
WHAT IT COVERS
- Classes: Honors professor salary/stipends, field trips, excursions.
- Program staff: Coordinators for the First Year Experience, career and professional development, Nationally Competitive Scholarships, and Service-Learning Experiences.
- Programs & Activities: First Year Experience, Common Reading Program, PATH Mentoring Program, professional development workshops, cultural events, and Honors Convocation.
- Advising: Honors advisors and Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarship staff.
- Student funding: study abroad scholarships, internships and research grants.
- Thesis support, professional development funds, and travel/conference funds.
For Fall 2021 and beyond, the fee will be used to:
- Expand Honors course offerings within majors
- Expand Honors general education and elective courses
- Create and support more Honors interdisciplinary minors
- Increase faculty directly engaged and mentoring in Honors
- Develop Honors Online courses, giving students enhanced flexibility
- Provide more advising and financial support for research and thesis completion
- Increase availability of funding for research, internships, and study abroad
- Provide greater career/professional development support and grants
- Increase peer support programs
The W.A. Franke Honors College recognizes that the fee poses a financial hardship for some students and we are deeply committed to continued and increased support of those with financial need.
FEE WAIVERS AND FEE SCHOLARSHIPS
If you need help with the cost of the Honors fee, we offer yearly waivers and scholarships (see FAQ "How does financial aid work for the Honors Fee?"). If you are a U.S. citizen, you must complete the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov to be eligible for either the waiver or the scholarship. Contact us at honors@arizona.edu for more information.
FAQs
The W.A. Franke Honors College offers both Fee Waivers and Fee Scholarships. The fee waivers are awarded automatically to students with the highest unmet financial need. The fee waiver covers the full Honors Fee. With the new fee, we have increased the amount set aside for aid to be able to provide approximately 30% more full fee waivers than with the previous fee.
Eligible students who do not receive the fee waiver are invited to apply for the Honors Fee Scholarship in August of each year. The fee scholarship can cover all or part of the Honors Fee. Fee scholarship applications are evaluated by an internal committee.
The eligibility criteria are for waivers and scholarships are:
- Franke Honors student
- Enrolled in 12 or more units
- Have paid the Honors Fee
- Ability to graduate with a GPA of 3.40 or higher (GPA can be below 3.4 at the time of application)
- Completed FAFSA
- Not in overaward status
Students will be notified of their fee assistance in the beginning of August for the fall semester.
Yes.
Currently no, but we are investigating that possibility.
Students should see charge for the Honors Fee on their Bursar's statement by July 30 for the fall semester. Please visit the Bursar's website for more information.
21 days after the start of the semester. For Fall 2021, that date is September 13, 2021.
Yes, the fee applies to all Franke Honors students, and the benefits of being an Honors student extend well beyond taking honors classes.
The W.A. Franke Honors College sets aside a portion of the funds generated by the fee for student financial aid. Students with high need who receive financial aid should see an increase in the amount that they receive.
Yes, several universities charge honors application, activity or advising fees. Both Barrett at ASU and the NAU Honors College have an honors fee.