The University Honors Program (UHP) provides curricular offerings, programming and benefits to undergraduates who achieve and maintain superior academic records. Students may earn the designation "University Honors student" through multiple pathways.  Entering first-year students with outstanding academic credentials are accepted into the Honors Program upon admission to the University. Students may also enter the Honors Program after their first semester with a minimum 3.8 grade-point average, or after their first year with a minimum 3.7 cumulative grade-point average. Such students will receive an invitation to join the program; students with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher may also apply to join the program. Transfer students entering UD from another institution may apply directly to the UHP by contacting the office. UD Sinclair Academy students in the Sinclair Honors Program have a direct pathway into UHP. Complete details are provided on the UHP website. University Honors students are expected to maintain at least a 3.6 cumulative GPA.

Membership in the University Honors Program requires continued progress towards one of the Honors Program-designated diplomas. Honors students complete the requirements for an Honors diploma in one of two ways: by earning 12 honors credits and completing a six-credit honors thesis project or by earning 18 honors credits without a thesis. To receive the Honors with Distinction diploma, Honors students earn 18 honors credits and complete the six-credit honors thesis project. Complete details on maintaining membership and benefits are provided on the UHP website.

Students are offered a selection of honors courses each term. In most instances, first-year University Honors students will enroll in an Honors-only section of the first year Humanities course requirement (HUM 101, HUM 102) or first-year Core courses. Honors sections of courses that satisfy either CAP or major course of study requirements are also available each semester. Students who have completed more than 75 hours may also earn honors credits by arranging a contract honors course with individual professors, provided that the contract is agreed upon and approved by the department Chairperson prior to the start of class. Each semester before the registration process begins, UHP students will be provided with an advising guide to assist with satisfying the Honors credit requirements. All honors courses will be designated as such on the student's academic transcript. 

Student may also earn honors credits through coursework associated with the Core Program and by completing graduate level courses for undergraduate credit. The honors credits earned are not necessarily one-for-one and these honors credits may not appear in the "Honors" section of the student transcript. Honors students must earn a grade of B or better for any honors courses or other honors credit-eligible coursework to earn honors credits towards the Honors Program diploma requirements.

Numerous benefits are available to members of the University Honors Program including early registration. The University Honors Program offers various social, cultural, and career-related events, the Honors Art Exhibition and the Honors Student Symposium each year. Honors students are eligible to apply for Honors-only programming such as internship opportunities (DC Flyers, Dublin Flyers), research opportunities (Berry Summer Thesis Institute, Oxford Flyers), or faith and leadership opportunities (Chaminade Scholars) where generous funding is provided. Honors students may opt to live on the first-year honors floor, or to apply for the special interest Honors house. Honors students also enjoy access to the Honors Study Lounge and student Huddle Room in Alumni Hall. To receive benefits, students must be UHP members in good standing and they may not be in violation of the University code of conduct.

University Honors students undertaking honors projects may apply for funding through the Palermo Honors Program Founders Fund. Grants may also be available for Honors students who present their academic research at professional conferences. University Honors students completing at least 60 semester hours are eligible to apply to the Cordell W. Hull International Fellows Fund for University Honors students. Established in 1997-98, this fund awards grants to support international learning, leadership and service projects. Finally, a limited number of awards may be made to Honors students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need.