The College of Charleston expands access to excellence: restructured Honors College now offers multiple pathways to success
May 12, 2026
The College of Charleston Honors College is expanding its reach to support a greater number of highly motivated students.
The newly reimagined Honors College will provide additional students with access to excellence while elevating the program to greater national prominence. The new structure offers students two concurrent pathways within the Honors College.
The long-standing Honors College experience is being elevated i
The General Honors College pathway expands on the ARCH Sc
The Honors College is consistently ranked as one of the top Honors Colleges in the nation for its ability to offer students personalized mentorship, honors coursework and experiential learning designed to create an environment that fosters critical thinking and problem solving.
All students participating in the newly restructured Honors College will benefit from prio
Those in the University Honors Program will also benefit from a dedicated four-year Honors advisor, unique classes, specialized programs, summer funding opportunities and participation in a year-long service-learning project called Honors Engaged.
“Not only does the Honors College bring national prominence to the College of Charleston with students frequently receiving nationally competitive awards, but it also increases the university’s graduation rate, improves the retention rate and adds to academic distinction,” says Suzanne Austin, executive vice president and provost of the College of Charleston.
More than 100 students currently in the ARCH Scholars Program have indicated they would like to transition into the new General Honors College pathway.
Michael Martin, a computer information systems major and member of the ARCH pilot program, is excited to continue his educational experience with the Honors College.
“As a commuter student, the Honors College has been one of the main ways I have found community on campus,” says Martin. “Honors has already connected me to people and opportunities I wouldn’t have found otherwise, and I look forward to being part of what comes next,” he added.
The new pathway structure begins in the fall 2026 semester. Incoming students will be invited to enroll in the General Honors College pathway, while those interested in applying to the University Honors Program will continue to do so through a holistic application review process. University Honors Program applicants will also be considered for membership in the Charleston Fellows Program, the top scholars program at the College of Charleston.
“We are excited to welcome more students into our close-knit community,” say
Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston’s mission is to provide students with a world-class education in the arts and sciences, business and technology, engineering and health sciences. Students have more than 150 majors and minors from which to choose — and they often choose to combine several—and complement their academic courses with overseas study, undergraduate research and internships for a truly customized education.
Nearly 12,000 students choose the college for its unique urban, mid-sized university feel. The College, home to undergraduates from across the country and around the globe, provides a creative and intellectually stimulating environment where students are challenged and guided by a committed and caring faculty of distinguished teacher-scholars. The city of Charleston serves as a living and learning laboratory for student experiences and opportunities for career development. The university bridges the old with the new in a setting that is truly extraordinary — where historic character and forward-looking innovation come together to shape a distinctive and inspiring environment for learning. A College of Charleston education focuses on discovery and personal growth, as well as preparation for life, work, and service to our society.
