Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private · Town (distant)
Private institution in Hillsdale, MI · 1,563 undergraduates · 21% acceptance rate.
- Top 5%Acceptance rate
- Top 6%Full-time retention
- Top 6%Median ACT
- Top 7%Graduation rate (4-year)
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- —
- In-state tuition & fees
- $32,0921,383rd cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $32,0921,314th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- —
- Median graduate debt
- —
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- —
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- —
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 84.8%144th highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 96.1%106th highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 20.6%79th most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- 143375th highest of 1,022 reporting
- Median ACT
- 3258th highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,5631,086th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 8.0:1212th smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 0.0%2,090th highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 68 mi (DTW)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- EDNov 1
- RDApr 15
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- Personal essay
- Required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 30 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | — | — |
| Applied MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | — | — |
| Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies | bachelors | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBiological Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages | bachelors | — | — |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | — | — |
| EconomicsSocial Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness | bachelors | — | — |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: Undenominationalsource
- Founded in 1844source
- Athletic nickname: "Chargers"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Whitesource
- Formerly known as "Michigan Central College" (1844–1855)source
- Athletic conference: G-MACsource
- Plays for the "Traveling Trophy{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Preview: Hillsdale looks to play spoiler on Saturday against 7-0 #6 Ashland |work=Hillsdale College Athletics |url=https://www.hillsdalechargers.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20221026iscq4y |language=en}}" (since 1970)source
- Fight song: ""Hillsdale Fight Song (Charge On)""source
- Notable alum: Erik Princesource
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Hillsdale College’s 1,563 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In MI
- Siena Heights UniversityAdrian, MI · 1,533 undergrads
- Adrian CollegeAdrian, MI · 1,635 undergrads
- Madonna UniversityLivonia, MI · 1,637 undergrads
- Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI · 1,701 undergrads
- Lake Superior State UniversitySault Ste Marie, MI · 1,391 undergrads
- Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · 1,387 undergrads
Elsewhere
- New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, NM · 1,561 undergrads
- St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · 1,566 undergrads
- Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · 1,560 undergrads
- Florida Polytechnic UniversityLakeland, FL · 1,556 undergrads
- Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL · 1,570 undergrads
- Pacific UniversityForest Grove, OR · 1,556 undergrads
Key links
- Official websitehillsdale.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 170286)
- Compare colleges in MIRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in MichiganEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with Siena Heights UniversitySide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Hillsdale College vs Siena Heights UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.