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About the Honors College Students

The Pierre Laclede Honors College's students share an intellectual curiosity, a demonstrated potential for critical thinking, and excellent oral and written expression. They thrive in an environment that provides opportunities to work with peers of comparable abilities and diverse backgrounds. Academic activities are complemented by extracurricular activities such as the Pierre Laclede Honors College Student Association, student publications, the University Ambassadors program, and many cultural and entertainment events at the Honors College.

So, who are the students at the Pierre Laclede Honors College?

  • Total enrollment peaked at 551 students in the Fall 2002. Currently, the Honors College has over 500 students and is growing every semester. Congratulations to the 230 students who earned Dean's List honors in the Fall 2007 semester! They earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher!

  • Well over half of PLHC students are between the ages of 17-22, but a number of returning adults expand the age range and add wonderful focus and perspective to the community.

  • While the majority of Honors students come from Missouri, 19 states and one US Territory have been represented in our student body. Some area high schools from which our students have come include: Incarnate Word Academy, McCluer North High School, McCluer High School, Fort Zumwalt West High School, Fort Zumwalt South High School, Parkway South High School, De Smet High School, Hillsboro Senior High School, Jackson High School, Webster Groves High School, Kirkwood High School, Ritenour High School, Gateway Institute of Technology,  Rockwood Summit High School, Bishop DuBourg High School, and St. Dominic High School. Some of the colleges from which our students have come include: Jefferson College, Saint Louis Community College (Forest Park, Meramec, Florissant Valley), St. Charles Community College, UM-Kansas City, UM-Columbia, Southwestern Illinois College, St. Louis University.

  • The following countries have also been represented at the Honors College: Armenia, Bosnia, Brazil, China, Equador, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Nigeria, Trinidad, and Vietnam.

  • Many PLHC students receive scholarships from UM – St. Louis, including the Honors College, and many receive additional awards from outside sources (Bright Flight, MO Guarantee Program and various private sources).

  • The Honors College enjoys representation in over 90% of the major undergraduate offerings at UM – St. Louis. The top 5 declared majors within the Honors College are: 1) English and Psychology; 3) Biology; 4) Undeclared; 5) Secondary Education. College by college, we are extremely diverse. The College of Arts and Sciences majors represent over 50% of our student body. Some of the other colleges represented are Business Administration, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Nursing, and Optometry. "Undecided Majors” make up a portion of our student body as well.