Hillsdale College
- Graduation Rate
- 87% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Acceptance Rate
- 21% A
- Admits roughly 21% — highly selective
- Enrollment
- 1,573
Bottom line: An A overall grade — top 6% of all U.S. colleges on outcomes.
What The Data Says
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An A overall — top 6% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
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A 87% graduation rate — 53% above the national average.
Why Hillsdale College Matters
Hillsdale College is a private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,573
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 88
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, English & Literature
Why students choose Hillsdale College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 21% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1320–1490. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Net price isn't reported for this school — check the cost section for what data exists.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduate earnings aren't reported for this school yet.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.61 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Hillsdale College stands out for its commitment to a liberal arts education, attracting students who value a traditional curriculum focused on critical thinking and moral reasoning. With an acceptance rate of 21%, it’s selective, making it a fit for those who are academically driven. Students here dive into programs like Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, English & Literature, and Mathematics & Statistics, cultivating a well-rounded knowledge base that prepares them for various paths.
Graduates from Hillsdale tend to do well after leaving campus, with a graduation rate of 87%. This speaks volumes about the support and community they find here. While specific earnings data isn't available, the strong academic foundation helps graduates enter the workforce confidently, often moving up in their careers. The emphasis on a classical education prepares students not just for jobs, but for thoughtful engagement in their fields and communities.
When assessing the financial aspects, Hillsdale College's net price and median debt figures are not disclosed, but it's clear that a solid education can lead to manageable financial outcomes. Students who thrive here are typically those who appreciate a rigorous academic environment and are eager to engage deeply with their studies. If you’re looking for a place where intellectual growth is prioritized and community is key, this could be a great fit.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hillsdale College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hillsdale College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale, Michigan, sets a competitive bar: about 21% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,415. The graduation rate is roughly 87%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Retention Rate
- 97%
- SAT Average
- 1415
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1320–1490
- ACT Range
- 30–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,424
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Applicants
- 3,017
- Admitted
- 621
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 Hillsdale College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Tuition at Hillsdale College is listed at $33,189 before any financial aid is applied.
- In-State Tuition
- $33,189
- Out-of-State
- $33,189
- Pell Grant Rate
- 0%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hillsdale College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (280)
- 78%
- 100% (280)
- 78%
- 100% (280)
- 78%
- 100% (280)
- 78%
How Hillsdale Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-80,928,158
Top Programs
The fields Hillsdale College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 16%
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 12%
- English & Literature 9%
- Mathematics & Statistics 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Psychology 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hillsdale College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hillsdale College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale, Michigan, sets a competitive bar: about 21% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,415. The graduation rate is roughly 87%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hillsdale College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Tuition at Hillsdale College is listed at $33,189 before any financial aid is applied.
How Connected Is Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hillsdale College.
- Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA · Close peer88% grad $62,830 earn 15% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA · Close peer90% grad $79,966 earn 12% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bates CollegeLewiston, ME · Close peer90% grad $69,498 earn 13% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH · Close peer84% grad $71,830 earn 31% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note