Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 78/100

Hillsdale College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Hillsdale, Michigan

About Hillsdale College

Thinking about Hillsdale College, a college in Michigan where more students graduate in Social Sciences than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Hillsdale College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hillsdale, Michigan. It enrolls 1,573 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
20.7%
Graduation
—
Net Price
—
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
1,573
Student : Faculty
8:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 96
Value —
Affordability 0
Selectivity 93

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Hillsdale College admits 20.7% of applicants, which makes it genuinely competitive, so your application needs to be strong.

Acceptance Rate
20.7%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1320 – 1490
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Hillsdale College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 27.7 pts since 2019
48.3%201936.5%202023.7%202120.6%202220.6%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. Hillsdale College has not reported one, so ask the financial aid office for a written estimate before comparing it against anywhere else.

Average Net Price
—
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$33,189
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,600
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,000
What this means: Only 0% of students at Hillsdale College receive Pell grants. Most enrolled families don't qualify for need-based federal aid.

Graduation Rate & Retention

96% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
96%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 1,573 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled
1,573
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
—

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Hillsdale College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Hillsdale, Michigan
Housing
Strongly residential 1,212 beds for 1,573 students
Adult Learners
1% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Biology graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Hillsdale College offers a varied set of programs: 27 distinct programs across 13 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
4 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
2 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 8 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.6B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,352
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

141 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 44 31% $96,227
Associate Professors 65 46% $75,800
Assistant Professors 31 22% $58,804
Instructors 1 1% $63,365

Pros & Cons of Hillsdale College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Hillsdale College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
  • Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid

Frequently Asked Questions about Hillsdale College

The questions families ask most about Hillsdale College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Hillsdale College hard to get into?
Hillsdale College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 20.7%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Hillsdale College?
20.7% of applicants are admitted. Fewer than a third of applicants get in, so treat it as a stretch rather than a safe bet. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for Hillsdale College?
Aim for 1490 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1320 and 1490 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for Hillsdale College?
Aim for 33 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 30 and 33 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is Hillsdale College known for?
Mostly English, Economics, History. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Hillsdale College accredited?
Yes. Hillsdale College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Hillsdale College?
1,573 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Hillsdale College a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Hillsdale College located?
Hillsdale College is located in Hillsdale, Michigan.
What programs does Hillsdale College offer?
27 different programs, most commonly English, Economics, History. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsdale College?
8 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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