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Hillsdale , MI
Hillsdale College is a private liberal arts college located in Hillsdale, Michigan. Founded in 1844, it prides itself on its commitment to classical liberal education and the importance of intellectual and moral development. The college has a strong reputation for its rigorous academic programs, dedicated faculty, and emphasis on individual liberty.
Hillsdale College offers a wide range of majors and minors, including fields like economics, history, political science, and English. The curriculum is grounded in a core curriculum that underlines the importance of the liberal arts and includes courses in philosophy, literature, and history. The college follows a classical approach to education, encouraging students to think critically, communicate effectively, and develop a deep understanding of the ideas that shaped society throughout history.
One distinctive aspect of Hillsdale College is its commitment to the principles of liberty and limited government. It does not accept any federal or state funding, allowing it to preserve its independence and uphold its mission of educating students in the principles and practices of a free society. The college features a vibrant campus life, including numerous student organizations, clubs, and athletic teams. Hillsdale College is dedicated to shaping well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also morally and ethically responsible citizens.
Located in Hillsdale, MI, Hillsdale College is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 20%. The freshman retention rate at Hillsdale College is 97% and the six-year graduation rate is 90%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is March 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Learn more about what Hillsdale College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,649
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
90%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Learn some vital information about admission at Hillsdale College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 659 in 2025. Hillsdale College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
32% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 34% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 55% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 44% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 76 and 24 between 24-29.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 31 while the average GPA was 3.93. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Hillsdale College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 714 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 689.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Hillsdale College is March 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Hillsdale College was 97%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 90%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect choice for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Hillsdale College in 2025 was 1,792.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 76% for that year. The number of transfer students at this school was 210.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 807 male and 818 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Hillsdale College.
The most recent records show that 166 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $24,639 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 447 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Hillsdale College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 655.
$22,199
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 625 students overall (including freshmen) at Hillsdale College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 156 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $26,870,520. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $750,569 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Hillsdale College was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 278. Out of that number, there were 180 male and 68 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Hillsdale College.
Its campus is 400 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 90 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 17 and female students 23. The student organization that has the biggest membership is 1844 Society, followed by Young Americans for Freedom and Hillsdale College for Life. Other popular student organizations at this school are College Republicans and InterVarsity.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? Hillsdale College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Hillsdale College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Hillsdale College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Hillsdale College.
Career Counselling
At Hillsdale College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school is 48,000 USD.
$48,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Hillsdale College is located in Hillsdale, MI.
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Hillsdale College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Hillsdale College is 20%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Hillsdale College is 97%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.