Barrett, The Honors College fountain in front of Tempe complex

About Barrett

A top honors college in the nation for outstanding undergraduates.

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Barrett, The Honors College

A public college of scholars

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University is a highly regarded, residential college for academically outstanding undergraduates.

As the honors college on all four campuses of the nation’s largest public university, Barrett offers the best of both worlds - a highly-personalized academic experience backed by the resources and expansive opportunities of a Research I university that is ranked No. 1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

A $12 million endowment exclusively supports honors students and their projects.

Barrett student studying outside the dorms on a patio table
Barrett scholar at graduation

Top producer of talent

From its inception, the honors college has attracted stellar students including National Merit Scholars, College Board National Recognition Program recipients, Gates Millennium Scholars, President’s Scholars and Provost Scholars. Barrett also attracts high achieving international students from across the globe, including students from China, Canada, India, Mexico, South America, Africa and Europe.

ASU is a perennial top-producer of Fulbright recipients, many of whom are Barrett Honors College graduates. For over a decade, ASU has been among the top 20 universities in the U.S. for recipients of this prestigious fellowship, and it is the second highest-ranking public university. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides full-cost awards to support yearlong post-graduate study, research, artistic and teaching experiences in over 140 countries.

Unique honors opportunities

Honors-only opportunities

Barrett students can enrich their experience in many ways through unique honors-only opportunities including study abroad and globally-focused programs, undergraduate research and internships, social and cultural events, and leadership and service initiatives.

Honors signature classes

Honors signature classes called The Human Event and The History of Ideas are supplemented by study abroad programs in Greece, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain and Morocco.

Domestic travel and global engagement

The honors college’s domestic travel/study program called Great American Cities takes students to interesting locales including New York City, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and San Francisco. Global engagement programs include travel opportunities, Barrett Global Classroom, GlobalResolve, Distinguished Global Leaders Lecture Series and Distinguished Global Leader Scholar-In-Residence.

Professional network

Honors students can participate in programs with people who have reached the pinnacle of their fields in science, politics, law, journalism, the arts, education, non-profits and many more.

Barrett Honors College milestones

June 2022

Tara Williams is appointed dean of Barrett, The Honors College. She is the third dean, and the first woman to hold the position, in the honors college’s history.


Aug. 2021

Barrett Online program begins with its first student cohort.


Aug. 2021

First-year student applications grew to more than 5,000 for fall 2021. This explosion in interest allowed the honors college to successfully grow its incoming class to nearly 2,000 in the fall 2021 semester. Barrett Honors College now has more than 7,000 students.


Nov. 2020

Barrett Honors College Suite and honors residential community open in Lantana Hall at ASU Polytechnic campus.


Aug. 2019

After several years in the University Center Building at ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, Barrett Honors College moves into the Mercado Building. 


Jan. 2019

The Center for Personal Development is established at Barrett Honors College. The center, which is supported by funding from a foundation, provides innovative courses, workshops and an engaging speaker series designed to help students achieve their personal best, both during and after their college experience.


Aug. 2018

Barrett Honors College celebrates 30 years as an officially-recognized ASU college serving outstanding undergraduates from throughout the U.S. and the world.

2017

ASU is one of only four universities in the United States to graduate a Churchill, a Marshall and a Rhodes Scholar in the same year, and they all are Barrett students.


2011

Barrett Honors College Suite opens in the University Center Building at ASU West campus.


2009

Barrett opens the nation’s only four-year residential campus for honors students on eight acres at the southeast corner of ASU’s Tempe campus. This Barrett complex has residence halls, classrooms, social lounges, a dining center, café, courtyards, an outdoor fireplace, an environmentally sustainable residence hall with a rooftop organic garden, and offices for administrators, faculty and staff.


2008

Honors classes and program begin at ASU Downtown campus.


2005

Honors classes and program begin at ASU Polytechnic campus.


2003

Mark Jacobs is appointed dean, ushering in an era that would bring not only new leadership, but new and unprecedented growth.


2001

As recommended by then-ASU president Lattie Coor, the Arizona Board of Regents name the honors college in honor of longtime ASU supporters Craig Barrett, former Intel CEO, and Barbara Barrett, former U.S. secretary of the Air Force.


1994

Honors classes and program begin at ASU West campus.


1988

The Arizona Board of Regents authorizes the creation of the University Honors College at ASU. With this designation, the first four-year, undergraduate, residential honors college in the United States becomes a reality with Dr. Ted Humphrey as the college’s founding dean.

 

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Barrett student wearing maroon shirt showing pitchfork symbol