Private nonprofit · College

Hillsdale College

Hillsdale, Michigan · Distant town

#2 most selective in Michigan#3 graduation rate in Michigan

20.7%
Admit rate: —
Avg net price: 90%
Graduation rate: —
Median earnings

Hillsdale College is a private nonprofit bachelor's-granting institution in Hillsdale, Michigan (distant town setting), enrolling 1,573 undergraduates. It has a Undenominational religious affiliation.

Private nonprofitSmall · 1,573 undergradsDistant townVery selective · 21% admitCold wintersSnowy

Will you get in?

See where your numbers land against Hillsdale College's admitted students.

Admit rate: 20.7%
SAT (mid 50%): 1320–1490
Avg GPA: 3.89

Your test score

Your GPA (4.0 scale, optional)

Enter a test score to see where you land against Hillsdale College's admitted students.

A guide, not a prediction. It compares your numbers with the middle 50% of admitted students and Hillsdale College's overall admit rate — it can't see essays, recommendations, activities, or your intended major, which all move real decisions.

About Hillsdale, Michigan

Hillsdale is the largest city in Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. A Potowatomi band of about 150 people, led by the chief known as Baw Beese, had a base camp near the large lake in the area. (Wikipedia)

Setting: Distant town
Highest degree offered: Graduate
Nearest big city: 55 miles to Kalamazoo, MI
To Great Lakes shore: 61 miles
Nearest airport: 49 miles to Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express (TOL)

How Hillsdale College compares

#65 · Most Selective Colleges #35 · Best-Endowed Colleges Per Student #59 · Colleges with the Smallest Student–Faculty Ratios

Selectivity20.7%

More selective than 95% · #2 most selective of 43 in Michigan

SAT average1415

Higher than 90%

Graduation rate90%

Higher than 96% · #3 of 44 in Michigan

First-year retention97%

Higher than 94%

Student–faculty ratio8 : 1

Lower than 89%

Undergraduate enrollment1,573

Larger than 51%

Percentiles compare Hillsdale College with the nation's 2,196 four-year colleges, among schools reporting each statistic. State ranks count four-year colleges in Michigan.

Student body

Undergraduate vs. graduate

Undergraduate1,57392%
Graduate1438%

Undergraduates by race / ethnicity

Other or multiracial100%

Graduate gender splits aren't published in this data, so the gender chart covers undergraduates only.

By the numbers

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,573
Graduate enrollment: 143
Student–faculty ratio: 8 : 1
Pell Grant recipients: 0%
First-generation students: —
Students over 25: 1%
Avg faculty salary (academic year): $75,816
Endowment: $1,133,148,253

Colleges don't publish true class-size data; student–faculty ratio (IPEDS) is the closest public measure of it.

Admissions

Admission rate: 20.7%
Test scores: Considered but not required
SAT range (25th–75th %): 1320–1490
SAT average: 1415
SAT reading: 680–750
SAT math: 640–740
ACT composite: 30–33
Average GPA: 3.89

Cost

In-state tuition: $33,189
Room & board: $13,600
Books & supplies: $1,200
Total cost of attendance: —
Average net price: —

Outcomes

Graduated (within 6 years): 90%
Graduated on time (4 years): 76%
First-year retention: 97%
Transferred to another college: 4%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: —
Median earnings, 10 years after entry: —
Median debt at graduation: —
Students with federal loans: 0%

Campus life & athletics

On-campus housing: Yes
Dorm capacity: 1,212
Dorm capacity vs undergrads: 77%
Housing charge (year): $6,500
Meal plan (year): $6,680
Application fee: Free
Football conference: Great Midwest Athletic Conference

Does the school pay you to attend?

Grant aid from the school's own funds — the discount off sticker, on top of any federal or state help.

97%

of first-years get a grant from the school

$20,505

average award, among those who get one

Hillsdale College discounts heavily: 97% of freshmen are awarded a grant straight from the school, averaging $20,505. For many families the real price lands well below sticker.

Blends need-based and merit aid — IPEDS doesn't split the two, so a high number can mean generous merit scholarships, deep need-based aid, or both. Figures cover 385 full-time first-year undergraduates, 2022–23. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid.

Campus climate

Summer high: 82°F
Winter low: 15°F
Annual rain: 39.5″
Annual snow: 44.1″

Average temperature

HighLow

Average precipitation (inches)

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Hillsdale, MI US station (0.4 mi from campus).

What Hillsdale College graduates study — and earn

English Language and Literature, General

41 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

41———Economics

37 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

37———Political Science and Government

36 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

36———History

36 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

36———Biology, General

27 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

27———Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

24 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

24———Finance and Financial Management Services

20 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

20———Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

17 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

17———Psychology, General

15 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

15———Mathematics

14 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

14———Philosophy

14 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

14———Accounting and Related Services

13 grads— 1 yr— 5 yr— debt

13———

Median earnings of this school's own graduates 1 and 5 years after finishing each program, and median federal-loan debt at completion (College Scorecard). Small programs are privacy-suppressed (—). Click a major to compare colleges nationally.

Colleges similar to Hillsdale College

Schools with a comparable profile — size, selectivity, cost, and graduate outcomes. Compare Hillsdale College side by side →

Reed College

Private

Portland, Oregon · Large city · 3 mi to Portland

Students: 1,320
Admission: 25%
Net price: $33k
SAT: 1437
GPA: 4.0
Earnings: $63k

Denison University

Private

Granville, Ohio · Small suburb · 26 mi to Columbus

Students: 2,380
Admission: 17%
Net price: $40k
SAT: 1410
GPA: 3.9
Earnings: $68k

Skidmore College

Private

Saratoga Springs, New York · Small suburb · 31 mi to Albany

Students: 2,694
Admission: 21%
Net price: $32k
SAT: 1405
GPA: 3.9
Earnings: $69k

Trinity University

Private

San Antonio, Texas · Large city · 3 mi to San Antonio

Students: 2,505
Admission: 26%
Net price: $23k
SAT: 1416
GPA: 3.7
Earnings: $72k

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Private

New York, New York · Large city · 1 mi to New York

Students: 842
Admission: 21%
Net price: $13k
SAT: 1410
GPA: 3.9
Earnings: $84k

Franklin and Marshall College

Private

Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Small city · 1 mi to Lancaster

Students: 1,799
Admission: 28%
Net price: $36k
SAT: 1392
GPA: 3.9
Earnings: $76k

Colleges near Hillsdale College

Hillsdale Beauty College

Hillsdale, MI · Private for-profit · Certificate · 26 students

1 mi

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 1,010 students

19 mi

Jackson College

Jackson, MI · Public · Certificate · 3,422 students

20 mi

Albion College

Albion, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 1,300 students

22 mi

Trine University

Angola, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 2,324 students

28 mi

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses

Angola, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 607 students

28 mi

Adrian College

Adrian, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 1,604 students

29 mi

Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's · 1,495 students

32 mi

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent cohorts), IPEDS institutional characteristics, Equity in Athletics (EADA) data, Clery Act Campus Safety and Security data, and NOAA US Climate Normals. Distances are straight-line from campus coordinates. Percentiles compare schools of the same level (four-year vs. two-year) that report each statistic.