Requirements

Honorifics — Academic Recognition Tiers

Honor Society® offers academic recognition tiers based on grade point average (GPA) to celebrate members who excel academically. These tiers include:

• -Highest Honors: GPA of 3.8 and above

• -High Honors: GPA of 3.5 to 3.79

• -Honors: GPA of 3.2 to 3.49

There is significant debate around the thresholds for honor society honorifics today. NPR recently published an article entitled "A Medical School Tradition Comes Under Fire For Racism" on how honorifics can "perpetuate systems that are deeply flawed." Dr. David Muller, the dean of medical education at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City said, "We can't justify putting people who are historically at a disadvantage at an even greater disadvantage. It just doesn't seem fair to dangle in front of our students an honorific that we know people are not equally eligible for." This sentiment is further echoed within honors programs throughout America today. Matt Means, director of the Honors Program at University of Nevada, Reno speaks directly to the trend of inclusivity within honors in his interview. “I think there is a little bit of honors in everybody,” Means said. “Honors should be about innovation, risk taking, embracing challenge – it should be about accepting and looking for new and diverse student populations – it should be about impacting multiple communities because the majority of our lives and careers aren’t going to be sequestered to a narrow band of a population.” Inclusivity plays an important and integral role in higher education and in honors programs today. “The worst word to affiliate with an honors program is elitism,” Means said. “An honors program or college should be inclusive, flexible, and offer different pathways to success by engaging students in collaboration and cooperation with other academic interests and programs – honors should be about locking arms.”

The Evolving Conversation Around Honorifics

Conversations within higher education highlight the importance of recognizing achievement without reinforcing exclusion. Recent perspectives—such as those featured by NPR and voices from university honors programs—emphasize that honors should promote opportunity, inclusivity, and diverse pathways to success. Leaders in education have noted that recognition systems should acknowledge innovation, resilience, service, and the many forms of excellence demonstrated by today’s students.

Honor Society® recognizes the history and value of academic honorifics while also supporting a modern approach that celebrates achievement in many forms. Our community welcomes a wide range of learners and achievers who demonstrate commitment, curiosity, leadership, and growth.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity & Achievement

Honor Society® honors academic success through our recognition tiers—but we also embrace a broader, more inclusive model of achievement. Membership is open to students and professionals from all fields who are striving for personal and academic growth.

We believe that each member contributes something unique. Whether through academics, leadership, service, or community involvement, we celebrate the different ways individuals make a positive impact. While GPA is one important measure, it is only one part of what defines an Honor Society® member.

Members within this range qualify for the Highest Honors tier, recognizing exceptional academic achievement. Highest honors members may also explore opportunities for which they are eligible.

Members within this range qualify for the Honors tier. This level recognizes consistent academic achievement, along with access to various development resources.