Newsroom

Are you a high school student taking honors or AP courses? Then the RVCC Honors College may be right for you! One way to find out is to attend an Honors College Information Session at RVCC on March 22, April 19, or May 17. In the meantime, read on to learn more!

First thing’s first: What is Honors College anyway? It sounds like a designated building on campus, but it’s actually a cohort-based honors program for highly qualified high school graduates who are entering college for the first time.

Launched in 2011, the RVCC Honors College offers smaller, seminar-style courses that have an interdisciplinary focus and afford students the opportunity to develop a close working relationship with their professors. The student experience is further enhanced through leadership and volunteer activities, educational trips, and service learning.

Approximately 75 students are admitted to the Honors College each year, representing roughly 20 different area high schools.

What Are Some RVCC Honors College Benefits?

Students who are admitted to the Honors College become part of a select community of learners and have various opportunities for academic, social, and personal growth alongside other academically motivated students.
“The Honors College builds a sense of community,” says Greg DeSanctis, Co-Director of the Honors College. “The cohort-based model allows students to benefit from the continuity and consistency of learning alongside the same peers throughout their college experience.”

Students also have the opportunity to work on an independent study Capstone project of their choosing, which can range from writing a one-act play, to learning about 3D printing, to building a scale model of a gothic-inspired bridge, and so much more.
RVCC Honors College students have been accepted to prestigious colleges around the country, including Columbia University, Princeton University, Yale University, Boston University, New York University, and more.

What Are Honors College Admission Requirements at RVCC?

Prospective Honors College students should meet three of the following eligibility requirements:

1. An unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher; or 87%
2. Rank in the Top 20% of their high school class
3. Proof of college readiness in both Math and English as demonstrated by one of the following:

• A cumulative SAT score of 1100+ (including 550+ in Math & 450+ in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing) OR
• An aggregate ACT score of 26+ (including a 24+ in Reading and a 23+ in Math) OR
• Satisfactory score on the RVCC Math & English Accuplacer Placement Test

4. History of civic engagement, leadership and/or volunteerism, either throughout high school or in your community

For information on how to apply for the Honors College along with the admissions documents you’ll need, click here. For course options, click here.

Student Spotlight

Let’s meet two RVCC Honors College students and hear firsthand why they love being a part of the honors program.

Emily Norgard

• Major: Criminal Justice and Social Sciences double major
• Expected graduation: May 2023
• What do you like about being part of the Honors College at RVCC? Every Honors class that I take, I know that I will be surrounded by classmates who are as passionate about the material as I am. Due to Honors classes being smaller and more discussion based, I am able to hear differing opinions from people of different cultures. The Honors College offers an academically challenging yet fulfilling experience where I can feel supported enough to make mistakes and learn from them.
• How would you describe RVCC’s Honors College community?
  I would describe the Honors College community as supportive, challenging, and diversified. This directly correlates with what I love most about being in the Honors College.

Madeleyn Andrade

• Major: Mechanical Engineering
• Expected graduation: Summer 2023
• What do you like about being part of the Honors College at RVCC?
  As I was growing up, I always found it hard to “fit in.” Even though it sounds too idealistic, the Honors College at RVCC opened its doors to teach me that I could belong anywhere that I wanted to! It gave me confidence to pursue things that I would have never thought possible, such as working on cool Engineering projects or being part of safe spaces that promote social consciousness. I am constantly motivated by the meaningful connections that I was able to make between my classmates, professors and faculty members, who I'm sure will always have a huge impact on my future self. 
• How would you describe RVCC’s Honors College community?
  I consider the Honors College an encouraging and inspirational community. Here, you are surrounded by hard working people who motivate you to find the best version of yourself. We are provided with the support to pursue our passions and demonstrate that, like the alumni, we also have the opportunity to strive for success. Yet, the best thing is just being able to be present and find a space full of empathy, active involvement and participation to make a better version of ourselves and make RVCC an even better place.      

Attend an Upcoming Honors College Information Session!

Ready to learn more about the Honors College at RVCC? The College is hosting Information Sessions on March 22, April 19, and May 17. At these on-campus events, you’ll learn all about Honors College benefits, the Honors College application process, financial aid options, and more. Plus, you’ll hear about The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)—an initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s highest achieving students with free tuition at their home county college. Register for the Honors College Information Session here!

Join us for an Info Session

Learn about all that The College has to offer.  The Information Sessions allows prospective students to explore RVCC’s academic and career training programs, tour the campus, discover options for financial aid, and more! Register here.

About Raritan Valley Community College

For prospective college students in New Jersey, it can be overwhelming to search for “schools near me.” RVCC is ranked the #1 community college in NJ by both WalletHub and Intelligent.com. The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs along with small class sizes and a rich campus life. For further information on The College, visit www.raritanval.edu.