Honors Program

Honors Program

Join an Elite Community of Highly Motivated Students

The Merrimack College Honors Program brings together the brightest in our student community who are eager to challenge themselves intellectually and to participate in enriching experiences for personal and professional success.

The program offers a number of opportunities, including:

  • Challenging classes with driven peers
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to learning
  • Independent study
  • Collaborative research projects 
  • Personalized attention from faculty mentors

In addition to classes, the Honors Program stays true to Merrimack’s Augustinian tradition and fosters community, leadership and friendship within the program and beyond. 

Students walking together across a green Merrimack College campus

Honors Program Virtual Information Webinar

Thursday, December 19, 2024 
from 6:00 pm 
to 7:00 pm

During this virtual session, we'll focus on Merrimack's Honors Program. You'll hear from staff, faculty and current honors students to get a sense of what makes our Honors Program unique!

Merrimack Honors Students Excel Academically

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Average Honors Grade Point Average

Merrimack Honors students have an average 4.1 high school G.P.A. demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence. 

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Average Honors Retention Rate

90% of our Honors students stay enrolled at Merrimack College. 

Top of Your Class

Merrimack recruits the top high-school applicants (in any major) to join the Honors Program annually.

Honors Program Benefits

Prestigious Honors Scholarship

You'll receive a scholarship exclusive to Honors Program students.

Guaranteed Internships

Be prepared to enter the workforce with guaranteed internships and the potential to work a six month co-op.

Priority Course Registration

You'll receive priority access to courses as a member of the Honors Program.

Personalized Advising

Get advising on accelerated graduation, graduate school preparation and prestigious national scholarships.

Devoted Housing

You'll live in dedicated honors housing and a Living Learning Community.

Honors Events

You'll attend co-curricular activities and community events throughout the year.

Honors Common Space

Spend time in Honors Commons - a redesigned space in the Sak Center for Honors students.

Honors Recognition

Come Commencement, you will receive special Honors recognition as well as a notation on your diploma.

Honors Program Features

Academic Rigor

  • As an Honors student, you’ll take eight innovative Honors classes taught by Honors Faculty Scholars, including a specialized Honors General Education curriculum.
  • You’ll complete an Honors Capstone – a senior year research project in your area of study that is targeted towards your career goals.
  • First-year students must maintain a 3.4 GPA and then a 3.5 thereafter. 

Personalized Attention & Support

  • Partner with Honors faculty on research and/or directed studies.
  • Match with a peer mentor to support your first-year success.

Exclusive Honors Opportunities

  • Participate in Honors-specific study abroad/travel opportunities.
  • Attend and present at an academic conference.
  • Build leadership skills through an assortment of engagement and community service experiences.
  • Join an exclusive Honors Professional Development Retreat.

The Five Pillars

  • Every aspect of the the Honors Program is organized around the Five Pillars of the Merrimack honors education.
  • The Five Pillars are: community, service, research, leadership and inclusivity. Learn more.

Honors Alumni Spotlights

Luke Groder

"The Honors Program brings an even greater sense of community to the college experience. It is full of unique individuals who mimic your work ethic and care deeply about academics. Additionally, it is full of new friends and experiences through the living-learning community and innovative programming."

Luke Groder '22

Engineer I at Weston & Sampson
Major: Civil Engineering

Bianca Baldassaro

"What makes the Honors Program different is the incredible faculty and student mentors. Each freshman Honors student gets to choose a student peer mentor before their first semester begins. As a freshman, it felt so nice to have a student who understood what you were going through adjusting to college."

Bianca Baldassaro '23

Wealth Strategies Analyst at Eaton Vance
Major: Business Administration

The admission office actively recruits the top high-school applicants (in any major) to join the Honors Program.  

Honors Class of 2023 Outcomes

Recent Employers

Pfizer
Walt Disney Logo
Amazon Logo
ray2
goldman

Graduate Schools

  • Baylor University
  • Bentley University
  • Boston College
  • Merrimack College
  • New England College of Dental Medicine
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
  • William James College

Honors Program Perks

Coming Fall 2026: Honors Pavilion

  • A cutting-edge center for academic excellence, the new Honors Pavilion opening Fall 2026 will offer Honors students an unparalleled environment for growth and innovation.
  • The state-of-the-art halls will feature modern living spaces and house vibrant community areas designed to foster collaboration, learning and a strong sense of belonging within our community.

Dedicated Honors Housing

  • Honors students offer four- and six-person suite options with dedicated Honors Resident Advisors.
  • As a Living Learning Community, Honors students participate in community activities together, learning from one another and making lifelong friends.
  • First-year Honors resident students are required to live in the Honors Living Learning Community to fully engage with the program and its benefits.

Honors Events

  •  The Honors Student Council represents the student voice to the Honors Program faculty and staff and plans academic, social and wellness events for the Honors student community.
  • Favorites include networking workshops, trips to the Boston Theater District and goat yoga!  

Honors Community

  • Our nationally recognized peer mentoring program pairs student leaders with first-year Honors students to help orient them to the Honors Program and to college life in general.
  • After your first year, serve as a peer mentor to incoming Honors Program students.

The Honors Commons

  • The Honors Commons, located in the Sakowich Campus Center, is a modern space featuring quiet and group study areas, a kitchenette, a conference room, maker spaces, and Honors Faculty and staff offices. The space was designed to strengthen the Honors sense of community and to provide resources to support student success.

Admission into the Honors Program

The admission office actively recruits the top high-school applicants. Students in any major can be in the Honors Program. 

Qualifying students have been invited to join the Honors Program in their admission letter. To accept this offer, please visit your admission portal to complete your Honors Reply Form and and submit your non-refundable enrollment deposit.

Recruitment of Sophomores

At the end of every fall semester, faculty are asked to nominate current Merrimack freshmen for admission to the honors program. Acceptance is at the discretion of the honors program. Upon meeting with the director, students are matriculated into the program and are expected to complete all requirements in their remaining three years at the college. If you are recommended for the honors program, please contact the program director.

Transfers

The director considers transfer students for admission to the honors program on a case-by-case basis. Generally, faculty advisers must see a strong academic background and recommend applicants who are keenly motivated to contribute to the program and complete it within three years.

Undergraduate Open House

Learn more about how Merrimack’s Honors Program can help you succeed by attending an Open House!

Register for an Open House