Liberal arts college
#25 Best colleges in AmericaHillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for accounting in America#3 of 1,132
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#3 of 950
- Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in America#1 of 292
- Best colleges for marketing in America#3 of 834
- Best colleges for finance in America#3 of 744
- Best small colleges in America#6 of 906
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- Best colleges for business in America#13 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#12 of 1,238
- Best colleges in America#25 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#20 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#21 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#21 of 1,358
- Best colleges for art and design in America#19 of 1,187
- Best colleges for English in America#24 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#24 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#24 of 1,215
- Best colleges for music in America#21 of 1,063
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#24 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#24 of 1,116
- Best colleges for economics in America#24 of 788
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#76 of 1,829
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#32 of 704
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#57 of 693
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#58 of 704
- Most selective colleges in America#73 of 683
In Michigan
- Best colleges in Michigan#1 of 44
- Best colleges for business in Michigan#1 of 40
- Best test-optional colleges in Michigan#1 of 40
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Michigan#1 of 36
- Best colleges for psychology in Michigan#1 of 36
- Best colleges for accounting in Michigan#1 of 35
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- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Michigan#1 of 33
- Best colleges for history in Michigan#1 of 31
- Best colleges for art and design in Michigan#1 of 30
- Best colleges for chemistry in Michigan#1 of 30
- Best colleges for English in Michigan#1 of 30
- Best colleges for mathematics in Michigan#1 of 30
- Best colleges for marketing in Michigan#1 of 29
- Best colleges for finance in Michigan#1 of 28
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Michigan#1 of 28
- Best colleges for music in Michigan#1 of 28
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Michigan#1 of 26
- Best colleges for economics in Michigan#1 of 24
- Best small colleges in Michigan#1 of 23
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Michigan#1 of 21
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Michigan#1 of 21
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Michigan#3 of 44
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Michigan#2 of 21
- Most selective colleges in Michigan#2 of 21
- Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in Michigan#1 of 10
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data.
Exceptional · Top 2%
From federal data, on fixed published scales.
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.97%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,415 · ACT 31.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.8 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$40,494
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 1,688 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 49% · Women 51% |
| Total students | 1,823 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 90% |
| First-year retention | 97% |
| Admission rate | 21% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $764 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 0% |
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1320–1490ACT 30–33Reach. They admit fewer than 1 in 5 applicants, so it’s a reach for everyone.Reach. Your score is below their middle range.Target. Your score is in their middle range.Target. Your score is above their middle range, and they’re selective.Likely. Your score is above their middle range.Likely. Your score is in their middle range, and they admit most applicants.
| Average SAT | 1415 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 680–750 |
| SAT math | 640–740 |
| ACT composite | 30–33 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Social sciences | |
| Business | |
| History | |
| Biology | |
| English |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Town |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,600 |
| Sports | NCAA Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 8 to 1 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 100%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $591,796IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 72% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport (TOL)About 49 miles away |
| Nearest major airport | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)About 68 miles away |
| Town population | 8,002Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | ToledoAbout 57 miles away |
| Typical weather | 23°F in January · 71°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Hillsdale, MI |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Questions families ask
- What is Hillsdale College’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 2% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How hard is it to get into Hillsdale College?
- Hillsdale College admitted 21% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Hillsdale College’s graduates do?
- 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 170286
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Undenominational
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 6%Denison UniversityGranville, OHSimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NYSimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TXSimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 7%Reed CollegePortland, ORSimilarly selective
Compare side by side: Hillsdale vs Denison · Hillsdale vs Skidmore · Hillsdale vs Trinity · Hillsdale vs Reed
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