Hope College
#4 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 81% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,427 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $27,182 D
- 59% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Communications Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,311,005.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 43% above the national college median.
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A 81% graduation rate — 42% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 48%
- Patents
- 26
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 86
- Downstream influence
Why Hope College Matters
Hope College is a private liberal arts college in Holland, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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 Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 3,288
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose Hope 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
Competitive — admits about 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,182 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,427 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $26,800 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 96% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At Hope College in Holland, MI, you'll find a welcoming environment for students who thrive in a close-knit community. With an enrollment around 3,288 and an acceptance rate of 79%, this school is particularly suited for those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Engineering. What stands out is the strong graduation rate of 81%, suggesting that students here not only start their journey but also finish it successfully.
Looking at life after graduation, Hope College graduates earn a median salary of $58,427 ten years after completing their degree. That’s a solid figure in today’s job market, especially for recent graduates. With a focus on accessible education, the school maintains a Pell Grant rate of 16%, indicating that they support students from low-income backgrounds. This financial assistance can play a crucial role in helping students move up the economic ladder, especially in competitive job markets.
When it comes to the practicalities of attending Hope College, the net price after aid is approximately $27,182, with a median debt of $26,800 for graduates. This financial landscape is manageable for many, and those who thrive here are often students who appreciate a blend of academic rigor and community support. If you're looking for a college experience that emphasizes both personal and professional growth, Hope College could be a great fit.
Rankings
- #4 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan
- #5 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Michigan
- #11 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan
- #11 Best Biology Colleges in Michigan
- #13 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
- #16 Best Colleges in Michigan
- #17 Best Bachelor's Programs in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Hope 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 Hope College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hope College, located in Holland, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,249. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1249
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1100–1340
- ACT Range
- 25–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,709
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.39
- First-Gen Students
- 15%
- Applicants
- 5,152
- Admitted
- 4,145
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 Hope College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hope College is $41,970, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,182. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,606 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,800 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $41,970
- Out-of-State
- $41,970
- Avg Net Price
- $27,182
- Median Debt
- $26,800
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,606
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,590
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,206
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,754
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Hope College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hope College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hope College earn a median of $58,427, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,727
- 8 Years
- $55,768
- 10 Years
- $58,427
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (547)
- 66%
- 100% (547)
- 66%
- 100% (547)
- 66%
- 100% (547)
- 66%
How Hope Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Hope College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hope College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,182/year ($108,728 total). Graduates earn $58,427 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,419,733 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,311,005 (13.1× your investment). The median debt is $26,800, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 81% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $108,728
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,419,733
- Net Return
- $1,311,005
- ROI Multiple
- 13.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,182
- Median Debt
- $26,800
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
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 Hope College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hope College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.53%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 2.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $114,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.53%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $155,022
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Hope College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 26 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.47%
- Top 48% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 26
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 86
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-15,925,000
Top Programs
The fields Hope 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.
- Business & Marketing 22% $69,838 early-career
- Education 10% $48,440 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $27,637 early-career
- Psychology 9% $26,097 early-career
- Engineering 7% $79,729 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $69,043 early-career
- Communications 6% $42,081 early-career
- Social Sciences 6% $53,400 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hope 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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hope College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hope College, located in Holland, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,249. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hope College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hope College is $41,970, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,182. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,606 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,800 in federal student loans.
Is Hope College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hope College earn a median of $58,427, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Hope College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hope College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.53%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 2.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $114,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hope 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 Hope College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hope College.
- Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer76% grad $58,375 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL · Close peer78% grad $58,469 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer63% grad $58,826 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills, MD · Close peer67% grad $62,079 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA · Close peer78% grad $61,723 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of St ThomasHouston, TX · Close peer69% grad $59,224 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hope 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 Hope College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note