University of Central Arkansas announces incoming Honors Scholars for fall 2026

The Norbert O. Schedler Honors College at the University of Central Arkansas has selected 75 incoming first-year students as its newest class of the Schedler Honors College and 37 incoming first-year students for its Schedler Honors Program, alongside 24 exceptional students who have already begun their college careers.

The entering Schedler Honors College and Schedler Honors Program classes of 2026 have an average high school GPA above 4.1. The honors class includes 126 students from Arkansas across 38 counties. All members of the incoming honors class were selected using a holistic admissions process that factors in the applicant's academic performance, writing ability, and service and leadership potential. The process, which requires written essays, letters of recommendation, and participation in a daylong orientation and interview, has been held up within the national collegiate honors community as one of the most in-depth admissions processes in the nation. The students selected represent an exceptional group of citizen-scholars.

Acceptance comes with access to supplemental scholarship funding for every student, access to a living-learning community in Jefferson W. Farris Honors Hall, and participation in a unique interdisciplinary curriculum. Beyond these traditional four-year tracks, the honors community also welcomes students later in their academic careers through its Track II program for current UCA and transfer students, as well as its Honors-to-Honors program for community college honors transfer students.

Students across all honors pathways take part in the high-impact practices of service learning, project-based education, collaborative work and undergraduate research. Honors students also receive exclusive grant funding support for study abroad, undergraduate research and internships.