Buchanan Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions

For students who apply by November 1, our goal is to let them know in December. For students who apply by December 1, we will let them know in February or early March. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. 

Please check the email listed on your application for updates.

The Honors College provides a small, private college environment while allowing students to take advantage of the opportunities at a large university. Freshman- and sophomore-level classes are limited to 20 students, allowing faculty and students to have quality discussions and hands-on learning experiences. The Honors College is home to three publications (Areté, Collage, and Scientia et Humanitas), 2 national honor societies (Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi), and offers Honors credit for Governor’s School, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

Additional benefits:

• Full tuition waiver up to 16 hours per semester
• $500 book allowance each fall and spring
• Priority registration
• Exclusive honors seminars
• Up to $5,000 available for an international study abroad experience

Yes, students with more than 21 hours of college credit are eligible to apply for the Buchanan Fellowship. We value your academic achievements and are committed to supporting your educational journey.

That said, the Buchanan Committee may give preference to applicants who have fewer than 21 college credit hours and who are able to enroll in key Buchanan courses such as COMM 2200, ENGL 2020 (Greek Literature), and PHIL 1030. These courses are traditionally associated with the fellowship experience. Read more about Honors graduation requirements.

However, our review process is holistic, and we regularly admit students who exceed the 21-hour mark. In many cases, we are able to substitute other coursework as needed to meet program requirements.

To see if you qualify to apply, or if you have additional questions, please contact an Honors advisor.

Absolutely! You must:

• Apply as an incoming freshman for the summer or fall semester.
• Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5 and SAT ≥ 1360 (or ACT ≥ 30).
• Submit official homeschool transcripts (per homeschool regulations, ideally using MTSU’s template).
• Tennessee residents must show Intent‑to‑Homeschool filed with the local school system.

Students who receive an early Buchanan offer by applying by November 1 will need to make their decision by the December deadline listed in their offer. Other applicants will need to accept the Buchanan Fellowship by May 1 of their senior year of high school.

The Honors College encourages any eligible students to take Honors courses. Buchanan Fellows and Honors students come from a variety of majors across campus. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can take Honors classes and be a Buchanan Fellow. Please contact your major advisor to see if the Honors minor fits your academic goals. Students who have already completed 21 hours or more may need help completing the Buchanan Program and should consult an advisor before applying. Students with 60 or more hours should apply for the Buchanan Transfer Fellowship.

Yes! Students who have taken time off after high school, known as a gap year or years, are welcome to apply. If you have questions about the process, please contact an advisor.

All Buchanan students will receive an Honors minor, which requires 15 hours of lower-division and 8 hours of upper-division Honors classes. These required classes will be taken with other Buchanan recipients:

• COMM 2200 Fundamentals of Communication (required)
• ENGL 2020 Themes in Literature (required)
• PHIL 1030 Introduction to Philosophy (required)
• PS 1010 Foundations of Government (optional), or other Honors class
• ECON 2410 Principles of Macroeconomics (optional), or other Honors class

Upper-division Honors classes include the following:

• 3 hours upper-division Honors courses (3000- and 4000-level courses) or Honors interdisciplinary seminar
• 1-hour Honors Lecture Series (UH 3000)
• 1-hour thesis tutorial (UH 4900)
• 3 hours Honors independent research (UH 495)

Each class of Buchanan Fellows moves through the Honors College together as a cohort. This includes taking the above classes and having volunteer and service opportunities throughout their time at MTSU.

The Buchanan Fellowship does not include housing, nor do Buchanan Fellows have priority in receiving housing. Students accepting the fellowship may live where they choose. Students interested in living on campus should note that Lyon Hall is the Honors Living and Learning Community. This is not required, but is an excellent option for Honors students looking to live on campus. The Honors College recommends applying ASAP to reserve a spot.

For questions about on campus housing, please contact MTSU Housing and Residential Life.

You should receive a confirmation email from the application system. Students who receive an early Buchanan offer by applying by November 1 must decide by the December deadline listed in their offer. Other applicants must accept the Buchanan Fellowship by May 1 of their senior year of high school.

Unfortunately, you can only have one 4-year scholarship. The Buchanan Scholarship has the highest amount of any 4-year scholarship, paying 16 hours of tuition for fall and spring for 4 years. If the cost of tuition increases, then the scholarship increases to match that. Additionally, $500 per fall and spring semester is placed into your account for books, and up to $5000 is available to study abroad.

If you have issues accessing the application, check your browser – Google Chrome works best for these forms. Second, ensure you accept cookies if prompted [click Accept in the blue band at the top of the page], or the application will not work correctly.

You do not have to complete the application in one session, but please save every 30 minutes or so. Please complete and submit your application several days before the deadline, as the Honors College is not responsible for technical issues or other computer issues that may occur.

If you continue to have technical issues with your PipelineMT account or Buchanan Fellowship Application, please contact help@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5345. Tell them your name and M-number and that you need help creating your pipeline account.