While the Honors Program has undergone many changes in the 30 years since its inception, it has been vital to promoting academic excellence at Lake Land College. Initially designed in 1978, the Honors Program was created to encourage and aid superior students at Lake Land.

In the early days of the program, students had the opportunity to select honors courses in the humanities, mathematics, sciences, and social sciences divisions. This allowed students to enjoy a smaller instructor-student ratio, exchange of ideas on a higher level, and serve as an incentive for growth.

Today, the Honors Program has expanded even further than what it had to offer in 1978. Now known as the Honors Experience, the honors program is a three-tiered program which gives students the ability to participate in many different ways. It is not required that students participate in all three tiers, but students are encouraged and recommended to take part in each facet of the program. The three different tiers of the honors experience are the Presidential Scholarship Program, the Honors Program, and Phi Theta Kappa.

The Lake Land Honors Program continues to provide students with honors-level coursework and independent studies programs. Students that complete the honors program are recognized at the commencement ceremony and are given special designation on their transcripts. Members of the honors program receive scholarships and are required to meet or exceed a minimum 3.5 GPA after completing 12 credit hours at the college.

The Presidential Scholarship Program is available to all eligible in-district high school graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance in their high schools. The presidential scholarship is good for up to two full years at Lake Land College and is valued at $9,250.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society for junior colleges and promotes scholarship, leadership, and service on campus. Students involved in Phi Theta Kappa must be invited to join, enrolled in an associate’s degree program, and keep a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.