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. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes96
Value—
Affordability0
Selectivity93
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 20.7%, Hillsdale College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
20.7%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1320 – 1490
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized 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
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Hillsdale College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Net-price data is not yet reported for this school.
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% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
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
Hillsdale College is home 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: DistantHillsdale, Michigan
Housing
Strongly residential1,212 beds for 1,573 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsdale College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
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
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hillsdale College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
Frequently Asked Questions about Hillsdale College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hillsdale College.
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?
Hillsdale College has an acceptance rate of 20.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Hillsdale College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hillsdale College scored between 1320 and 1490 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Hillsdale College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hillsdale College scored between 30 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is Hillsdale College known for?
Hillsdale College is best known for its programs in English, Economics, History. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hillsdale College accredited?
Yes. Hillsdale College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Hillsdale College?
Hillsdale College enrolls 1,573 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is Hillsdale College a public or private college?
Hillsdale College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Hillsdale College located?
Hillsdale College is located in Hillsdale, Michigan.
What programs does Hillsdale College offer?
Hillsdale College offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include English, Economics, History.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsdale College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsdale College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Graduation rate
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