Hillsdale College President Presents Charlie Kirk With Honorary Degree

In tribute to Charlie Kirk, Hillsdale College will be awarding him with the highest honors a college can give: an honorary degree in his name.

Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry Arnn made the announcement during Charlie Kirk’s memorial service today.

Watch here:

🚨 BREAKING: The Hillsdale College President just revealed that Charlie Kirk will be getting an HONORARY DEGREE named after him. Wow! pic.twitter.com/KjOzqaSkOp

"This May 9th…Erika doesn't know yet…we're going to give Charlie and Erika the greatest respect a college can give:…

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 21, 2025

You can watch Dr. Larry Arnn’s full remarks at Charlie Kirk’s memorial here:

.@DrLarryArnn delivered these remarks at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service today. pic.twitter.com/yvmG0yJtYi

— Hillsdale College (@Hillsdale) September 21, 2025

Before his tragic death, Charlie Kirk took dozens of online courses at Hillsdale College.

The college is a small, private Christian college in Michigan.

Fox Business shared:

Michigan’s Hillsdale College is paying its respects to Charlie Kirk, confirming that the conservative activist took dozens of their online courses before his death.

Founded in 1844, the self-described “small, Christian, classical liberal arts college” provides “‘all who wish to learn’ the education necessary to preserve the civil and religious liberties of America,” its website states. It launched its online program in 2011, and Kirk was one of “more than 4.2 million Americans” who took its courses that focus on history, politics, economics, philosophy and religion, and more.

“Without presuming to speak for Charlie, we believe he was drawn to Hillsdale’s independence and its mission: to teach the truth and to live by it. Charlie took some 30 of our online courses,” Hillsdale’s Associate Vice President of Media and Public Relations Emily Stack Davis said in a statement.

“We are praying for Erika and their children, and have been sharing memories of Charlie: lectures, conversations, and podcasts he joined with our faculty, staff, and students,” she said.

After his death, Hillsdale College posted this very touching tribute to Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy:

We remember Charlie Kirk.

1993 — 2025 pic.twitter.com/S1woC01Kza

— Hillsdale College Online Courses (@hillsdaleonline) September 20, 2025

Charlie Kirk also spoke at a National Leadership Seminar for the college back in February.

Even before taking online courses, Charlie developed a close relationship with Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry Arnn, who spoke very highly about him.

From The Washington Times:

Mr. Arnn said that Mr. Kirk had completed over 31 online courses at Hillsdale College, one of only a handful of people to do so.

“I keep a list in my head of the six or eight young people … who are the best I ever saw. Charlie was the only one who was not a full-time student at Hillsdale College that was on that list,” Mr. Arnn said. “We will miss him dearly.”

The honorary doctorate will be presented to Mr. Kirk’s widow, Erika, next May 9, Mr. Arnn said.