Hope College
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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, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
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
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, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 79% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,249. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Hope College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $41,970 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 $27,182 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,606 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,800.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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%?
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Hope 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hope College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hope College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Hope College, located in Holland, Michigan, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 79% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,249. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hope College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Hope College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $41,970 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 $27,182 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,606 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,800.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.