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CollegeRanker
Colleges / NY / Hamburg
Private nonprofit Hamburg, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 93% data
A- Social Mobility B- Diversity B- Earnings
52%
C-
Graduation Rate
About half of students who start complete their degree
$48,309
B-
Earnings (10yr)
Roughly in line with national averages
$22,723
D+
Net Price
33% more than the typical college
97%
F
Acceptance Rate
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +18% vs avg
Graduation -8% vs avg
Net Price 33% vs avg
Mobility Top 14%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 11.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.4 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New York.

11.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $11.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $943,672.

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What The Data Says

1

A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Social mobility rate of 2.76% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

3

Every $1 invested returns $11.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Hilbert College Matters

Hilbert College is a private college in Hamburg, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
921
Setting
Suburban
Designations
30
Primary Strengths
Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications

Why students choose Hilbert College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 49% overall
B-
Earnings
$48,309 median
C-
Value
2.1× net price
D+
Affordability
$22,723/yr net
C-
Graduation
52% graduate
A-
Social Mobility
2.8% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
97% admit rate
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 97%, Hilbert College is an accessible option for students looking to explore a range of academic paths. It’s particularly appealing for those interested in Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications, or Biology & Biomedical programs. The small student body of 921 means individuals can expect more personalized attention from faculty, which can enhance the learning experience and foster strong connections.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $48,309 within ten years. This figure suggests that many graduates are able to find stable employment in their chosen fields. Affordability is also a key factor; nearly half of the students benefit from Pell Grants, which can help offset costs and make education more accessible. While the graduation rate stands at 52%, it’s important to consider that many students may find their footing after finishing their studies.

When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $22,723, which is manageable for many families. With a median debt of $24,750, students are entering the workforce with a relatively reasonable financial burden. Those who thrive here often have a clear sense of purpose and resilience, able to navigate challenges and take full advantage of the supportive environment that Hilbert fosters.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Hilbert College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Hilbert College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Hilbert College, located in Hamburg, New York, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 97% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 52%.

Acceptance Rate 97%
Retention Rate 64%
Full-Time Faculty 32%
Faculty Salary (mo) $6,332
Student–Faculty Ratio 14:1
Diversity Index 0.66
First-Gen Students 38%
Applicants 1,354
Admitted 1,293
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hilbert College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Hilbert College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $33,740 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,723 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,903 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,750.

$33,740
In-State Tuition
$33,740
Out-of-State
$22,723
Avg Net Price
$24,750
Median Debt
48%
Pell Grant Rate
73%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$20,903
Family Income $0–$30K
$20,389
Family Income $30K–$48K
$23,162
Family Income $48K–$75K
$24,329
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Hilbert College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Hilbert College earn a median of $48,309, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$45,369
6 Years After Entry
$48,876
8 Years
$48,309
10 Years
0.51x
Debt-to-Earnings
63%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$45,369 6yr $48,876 8yr $48,309 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

54%
100% (86)
54%
100% (86)
54%
100% (86)
54%
100% (86)

How Hilbert Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation52%Earnings 10yr$48KNet Price$23KRetention64%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate48%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$21K$0-30K$20K$30-48K$23K$48-75K$24K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%12.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%23.0%MOBILITY2.76%

College ROI Calculator

Is Hilbert College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Hilbert College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,723/year ($90,892 total). Graduates earn $48,309 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,034,564 in total earnings — a net gain of $943,672 (11.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$90,892
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,034,564
Projected 20yr Earnings
$943,672
Net Return
11.4×
ROI Multiple
$22,723
Cost Per Year
$24,750
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
52%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Hilbert College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Hilbert College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.76%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

2.76%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
23.0%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
12.0%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$66,300
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Hilbert College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Hilbert College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.51 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.51
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.00
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
4.3%
Volunteering Rate
0.98
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$5,918,729
Endowment
Total Expenses
$2,555,574
Federal Grants
$-701,060
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Hilbert College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Hilbert College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Hilbert College, located in Hamburg, New York, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 97% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 52%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hilbert College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Hilbert College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $33,740 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,723 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,903 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,750.

Is Hilbert College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Hilbert College earn a median of $48,309, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does Hilbert College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Hilbert College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.76%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Hilbert College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Hilbert College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.51 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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