Scholarship Opportunities for Freshmen

The Honors Scholar Program

The Freshman Honors Scholar Program offers students a variety of advantages and support that can help create an extraordinary learning experience at Hunter College. Our "Honors Scholars" receive the following benefits:

  • Significant merit scholarships
  • Learning communities
  • Dedicated academic advisors and faculty directors
  • Priority registration for classes
  • Freshman year priority access to campus housing
Application Deadlines
  • Priority Scholar Deadline - Dec 15
  • General Scholar Deadline - Feb 15

All applicants who submit this scholar program application after Feb 15, 2026, will be automatically placed on the waitlist. You will only receive a decision if you are removed from the waitlist, which is not guaranteed.

The supplemental Freshmen Honors Scholar Program Application will close on April 1.

How to Apply

Applying to the Freshmen Honors Scholar Programs is a two-step process:

  1. You must first apply for admission to Hunter College via General Freshman or Macaulay Application.
  2. You must then submit a supplemental Freshman Honors Scholar Program Application to the program of your choice. You can only apply to one.
More About the Honors Scholar Program

Macaulay Honors College at Hunter

A University-wide honors program for incoming freshmen, Macaulay students will be dually enrolled in both Hunter and the Macaulay Honors College. The program combines the close-knit community of a small college with the vast resources of a major research university. Macaulay Honors College scholars receive the following benefits:

  • Individualized mentoring by distinguished faculty members and dedicated academic advisors.
  • Full gap-merit scholarship (New York State residents).
  • Priority access to campus housing.
  • Seminar classes which allow our students enriching opportunities to work and learn together while they develop a deeper understanding of New York’s rich cultural and intellectual history.
  • All students will complete either an internship and/or a study abroad program.
How to Apply

To apply to the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter, you must submit the CUNY Macaulay application and select Hunter College as your Macaulay campus choice. You may apply through Early Decision or Regular Decision, please see details below.

Macaulay Early Decision Application Process and Deadlines

If you are certain that Macaulay at Hunter College is the right school for you, you may want to consider applying through early decision.

Early decision (ED) application process is binding. If you apply for and are admitted through the early decision admission process, you are expected to enroll at Hunter College. In addition, you are expected to withdraw applications from other schools and not submit any new applications after receiving an offer of admission.

ED Macaulay Deadlines 

 Required materials

November 3, 2025, at 6 pm

CUNY Macaulay Honors Application that lists Hunter as the Macaulay choice
Select “Early Decision” on your application
Application Fee
High School Transcript(s) from all previous schools
Two (2) out of three (3) required Macaulay Essays
TOEFL (if educated in non-English environment) Resume (optional)

November 10, 2025, at 6 pm

 

Letters of Recommendation
Regular Macaulay Decision Application Process and Deadlines

Regular Macaulay application process is non-binding. If admitted, you will have until May 1st to decide if Macaulay at Hunter is the right choice for you.

Regular Macaulay Deadline Required Materials
November 17, 2025, at 6 pm CUNY Macaulay Honors Application that lists Hunter as the
Macaulay choice
Application Fee
High School Transcript(s) from all previous schools
Two (2) out of three (3) required Macaulay Essays
TOEFL (if educated in non-English environment)
Resume (optional)
November 28, 2025, at 6 pm Letters of Recommendation

 

Macaulay Application Notifications Timeline

Early Decision Applicants – Decisions to all applicants who submitted all required materials by provided deadlines above will be notified of Macaulay decision on February 17, 2026, after 3 pm. Admitted Early Decision applicants are required to attend Hunter College.

Regular Decision Applicants – Decisions to all applicants who submitted all required materials by provided deadlines above will be notified of Macaulay decision on March 16, 2026, after 3 pm. Admitted Regular Decision applicants will have until May 1st to commit and deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I apply regular decision if I don’t get in ED?
    No. However, your ED application will be considered for admission to Hunter College as a general freshman automatically.
  • Do I have to do anything special to apply ED?
    You just need to make sure to select “Early Decision” on you application and submit all required materials by provided deadlines.
  • Do I need to apply to Hunter as a general freshman too?
    Nope! All those who apply to Macaulay Honors College and submit all required materials will be considered for general admission to Hunter College automatically.
More About the Macaulay Honors College