Honors & Scholar Programs

Student Academic Engagement & Success (SAES) offers a wide array of honors and scholars programs for SMU students. We offer dynamic experiences that will immediately stretch your thinking through unique academic opportunities, interactive and interdisciplinary seminars, and hands-on activities.

Explore them for yourself.

Programs & scholar groups

Hilltop Scholars

SMU's premier first-year honors community. Students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and an interest in service and leadership on their applications to SMU may be invited to join the Hilltop Scholars Program (HSP). We offer select courses that HSP students can take together to form a strong academic foundation.

Serve

Hunt Scholars

The Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholars Program allows students to combine learning and leadership. It enables outstanding student leaders from all walks of life to come to SMU - students whose leadership gifts will have a significant impact on our SMU community and, eventually, on the quality of our society.

Lead

Mustang Scholars

The Dallas County Mustang Scholarship awards up to ten, four-year scholarships available exclusively to SMU students who will graduate from a high school located in Dallas County (Texas).This four-year leadership, service, and academic excellence program provides small grouo

Excel

President Scholars

The President’s Scholars (PS) program has provided opportunity to some of the nation’s brightest students, who in turn enrich the University environment with their intellectual vitality, diverse talents, and campus involvement.

Enrich

Rotunda Scholars Program

The Rotunda Scholars Program (Rotunda) aims to help first-year students achieve early success at SMU by promoting academic achievement, leadership, and personal excellence.

Achieve

University Honors Program

Students in the University Honors Program (UHP) are prepared for the future through a program that centers on the values of a broad-based education in the humanities and sciences. Join us and explore your intellectual curiosities in an environment supported by expert faculty, advisors, and like-minded students.

Join

Spaces & places

Academic Center for Excellence

Recognizing that everyone comes to college with different educational experiences, the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) in Armstrong Residential Commons sponsor programs focuses on those who identify as first-generation college students, may need assistance in adjusting to an urban city, or seek assistance in fully utilizing campus resources, be they academic, financial, or social.

Seek

Scholars' Den

The Scholars' Den is a unique space in the Clements Hall basement made for studying, group work, informal meetings, or even taking a short nap between classes.

Visit