Honors, Fellows and Scholars Programs

The Honors and Fellows programs offer a more immersive, four-year experience alongside a cohort of academically driven students seeking deeper challenges and expanded opportunities to lead, think critically, and make a lasting impact.

Honors Program

Exceptionally motivated students seeking a premier program with academic challenges find themselves at home in the Honors Program, a merit-based college scholarship. The Honors Program is open to students in any major.

Learning Opportunities

The Honors Program participants will have exceptional learning opportunities such as these:

  • Special courses and faculty mentoring
  • Housing options such as a living-learning community for Honors Program
  • Paid research assistantships or internships
  • Opportunity to study abroad over Winter Term in your first year
  • Scholarships of $15,000 per year, plus a $12,000 Presidential Scholarship and one-time $1,000 Global Study grant

Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program

Students who want to understand the dynamics of leadership, cultivate the skills and attributes of an effective leader, translate goals to reality and learn to be a catalyst for positive change should apply to be a Leadership Fellow, a merit-based college scholarship. The Leadership Fellows Program is open to students in any major.

Learning Opportunities

In each of the Fellows programs, you will have exceptional learning opportunities such as these:

  • Special courses and faculty mentoring
  • Participate in a specially designed course on civil rights and travel to key locations to study during Winter Term in your sophomore year
  • Scholarships are $8,000, plus a one-time $1,000 Global Study grant

Applying for the Honors and Leadership Fellows Programs

  1. Apply for first-year admission to Elon

    Complete and submit the Common Application or an Elon University application, along with the $60 application fee, official high school transcript(s) and the completed Secondary School Report Form no later that the following dates.

    Early Decision: November 1
    Early Action: November 1
    Regular Deadline: January 10*

    *If applying Regular Deadline, submit your first-year application by November 1 and the Honors and Fellows application by November 10.

  2. Submit the Fellows or Honors application no later than November 10

    Students applying to the Honors or Fellows programs may access the application via their Elon Acorn Account (admissions.elon.edu/status) following submission of the first-year application. Students applying via the Common Application will receive their Acorn Account log-in information one day after submitting the first-year application. You may apply for up to two programs based on your intended major. Students pursuing dual-degree or accelerated programs are ineligible for Honors and Fellows programs. Because Elon’s BSN program requires an SAT or ACT submission, candidates for the Nursing Fellows program must submit a standardized test score.

    Note: Decisions for the Honors and Fellows programs will not be available until after January 10, which is the enrollment commitment date for Early Decision applicants. Students who need scholarship information prior to making their enrollment commitment should not apply Early Decision.

The following information might be helpful as you consider applying for the Honors and Fellows programs:

  • Fellows program scholarships are reviewed by faculty beginning November 15. Finalists will be notified through their Acorn Accounts by December 20 at the same time their first-year admission decisions are released. Interviews will take place during our Honors and Fellows weekend February 6-7, 2026. The weekend includes an interview, academic simulations, seminars, information sessions and meals on campus. You will also meet currently enrolled Honors and Fellows students. Finalists who apply under the Regular Deadline will receive their first-year admissions decision at the time of invitation to the weekend.
  • Candidates selected to compete for the Honors Program will be required to have a recommendation letter submitted on their behalf prior to the interview weekend February 6-7, 2026.

Fellows Programs

Elon offers these challenging merit-based college scholarship programs:

  • Business Fellows for majors in accounting, business analytics, economic consulting, economics and innovation, entrepreneurship, finance, financial technology (FinTech) human resource management, international business, marketing, project management or supply chain management
  • Communications Fellows for majors in cinema and television arts, communication design, digital content management, journalism, media analytics, sport management and strategic communications
  • Elon College Fellows for majors in the arts and humanities, social sciences and natural and mathematical sciences
  • Engineering Fellows for students majoring in engineering and computer science
  • Nursing Fellows for students majoring in nursing
  • Teaching Fellows for majors in education and teacher licensure programs

Learning Opportunities

In each of the Fellows programs, you will have exceptional learning opportunities such as these:

  • Special courses and faculty mentoring
  • Housing options such as a living-learning community for Honors Program and Fellows
  • Paid research assistantships or internships
  • Scholarships are $8,000, plus a one-time $1,000 Global Study grant

Applying for Fellows Programs

  1. Apply for first-year admission to Elon

    Complete and submit the Common Application or an Elon University application, along with the $60 application fee, official high school transcript(s) and the completed Secondary School Report Form no later that the following dates.

    Early Decision: November 1
    Early Action: November 1
    Regular Deadline: January 10*

    *If applying Regular Deadline, submit your first-year application by November 1 and the Fellows application by November 10.

  2. Submit the Fellows application no later than November 10

    Students applying to the Fellows programs may access the application via their Elon Acorn Account (admissions.elon.edu/status) following submission of the first-year application. Students applying via the Common Application will receive their Acorn Account log-in information one day after submitting the first-year application. You may apply for up to two programs based on your intended major. Students pursuing dual-degree or accelerated programs are ineligible for Fellows programs. Because Elon’s BSN program requires an SAT or ACT submission, candidates for the Nursing Fellows program must submit a standardized test score.

    Note: Decisions for the Honors and Fellows programs will not be available until after January 10, which is the enrollment commitment date for Early Decision applicants. Students who need scholarship information prior to making their enrollment commitment should not apply Early Decision.

The following information might be helpful as you consider applying for the Fellows programs:

  • Students may apply for one school-based (Business, Elon College, Communications or Teaching Fellows) program. You may also apply for one non-school-based program (Honors or Isabella Cannon Leadership).
  • Fellows program scholarships are reviewed by faculty beginning November 15. Finalists will be notified through their Acorn Accounts by December 20 at the same time their first-year admission decisions are released. Interviews will take place during our Honors and Fellows weekend February 6-7, 2026. The weekend includes an interview, academic simulations, seminars, information sessions and meals on campus. You will also meet currently enrolled Honors and Fellows students. Finalists who apply under the Regular Deadline will receive their first-year admissions decision at the time of invitation to the weekend.

Scholars Programs

Elon offers these exciting merit-based college scholarship programs:

Learning Opportunities

In each of these programs, you will have exceptional learning opportunities such as these:

  • Special courses and faculty mentoring
  • Peer networking
  • A $5,000 renewable annually