Hope College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Holland, Michigan. It enrolls 3,288 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.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value26
Affordability17
Selectivity59
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.2%, Hope College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1100 – 1340
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 31
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 Hope College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
9.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Hope College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $27,182 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,182
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
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
$41,970
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,950
Room & Board (off-campus)
$3,560
Books & Supplies
$1,190
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,690
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,646
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,606
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,590
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,206
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,017
Over $110,000
$32,754
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$13,81025%percentile
$26,800Medianpercentile
$28,30075%percentile
$33,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $24,500
↓ $2,300
No Pell $22,500
↓ $4,300
Dependent students $23,250
↓ $3,550
Independent students $29,820
↑ $3,020
Female students $23,250
↓ $3,550
Male students $23,000
↓ $3,800
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,800), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
77% of full-time students who enrolled at Hope College graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Hope College earn a median of $58,427 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,427
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$55,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,500, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Hope College is home to 3,288 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,288
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.3%2,543
Hispanic 8.2%271
Black 3.9%129
Other 3.7%121
International 2.7%89
Asian 2.5%81
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Hope College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHolland, Michigan
Housing
Strongly residential2,472 beds for 3,288 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Hope College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
21 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 Hope College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$504M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,057
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
260 instructional faculty across 3 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
75
29%
$99,098
Associate Professors
66
25%
$77,586
Assistant Professors
119
46%
$62,871
Pros & Cons of Hope College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hope College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Hope College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hope College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hope College.
Is Hope College hard to get into?
Hope College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Hope College?
Hope College has an acceptance rate of 79.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Hope College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hope College scored between 1100 and 1340 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 Hope College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hope College scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Hope College cost?
The average net price after aid at Hope College is $27,182 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Hope College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,427 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,182 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Hope College known for?
Hope College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Hope College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Hope College are $58,427, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Hope College accredited?
Yes. Hope College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Hope College?
Hope College enrolls 3,288 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Hope College?
Hope College graduates 77% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hope College a public or private college?
Hope College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Hope College located?
Hope College is located in Holland, Michigan.
What programs does Hope College offer?
Hope College offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hope College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hope College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Michigan
Other colleges in Michigan share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Teacher Education (K-12)
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