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Hillsdale College

Hillsdale, Michigan 49242

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Sciences-focusedTight-knitCollege townGreek life

Highly selective — known for biology

Hillsdale College is a private institution in Hillsdale with particular strength in biology and business. With an average SAT of 1433, the school attracts a competitive applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.6K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

85% of students graduate within four years.

Established
1844
Motto
Latin: Virtus Tentamine Gaudet
Type
Private liberal arts college
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

46 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Tour

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21%Acceptance
1433SAT Avg
1,563Students
8:1Student:Faculty
85%Grad Rate
Earnings 10yr

Admissions

Acceptance Rate20.6%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1433

Reading & WritingMid: 720
670760
MathMid: 705
670750

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 32
3033

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$32,092
Room & Board$13,180
Books & Supplies$1,200

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

100.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.7%/yr

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (32)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

96%

Very Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
1,563
Gender Split
50% / 50%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
0%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate84.8%
Freshman Retention96.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#50
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

SwimmingVolleyballTrack

History & Fun Facts

  • Its first president was Daniel McBride Graham, who held the office from 1844 to 1848.
  • Edmund Burke Fairfield assumed the school's presidency in 1848, and in 1850, the college was chartered to confer degrees.
  • Outgrowing its space by 1853, the school moved to Hillsdale, Michigan, in part to have access to the railroad that served the city.
  • Construction was completed and the school reopened as Hillsdale College in 1855.
  • Fairfield led Hillsdale for 25 years, from 1848 to 1869.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

90Average

Estimated from MI state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Detroitpop. 640K
86 mi(149 min)
Chicagopop. 2.7M
154 mi(267 min)
Clevelandpop. 370K
155 mi(269 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

DTW Detroit68 mi
CLE Cleveland148 mi
CMH Columbus162 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA695 mi · ~20h 5m drive
New York, NY557 mi · ~16h 5m drive
Hartford, CT615 mi · ~17h 46m drive
Providence, RI679 mi · ~19h 37m drive
Albany, NY558 mi · ~16h 7m drive
Syracuse, NY439 mi · ~12h 41m drive
Rochester, NY367 mi · ~10h 36m drive
Buffalo, NY301 mi · ~8h 42m drive
Philadelphia, PA512 mi · ~14h 47m drive
Pittsburgh, PA262 mi · ~7h 34m drive
Harrisburg, PA419 mi · ~12h 6m drive
Newark, NJ549 mi · ~15h 52m drive
Washington, DC451 mi · ~13h 2m drive
Baltimore, MD458 mi · ~13h 14m drive
Atlanta, GA566 mi · ~16h 21m drive
Charlotte, NC506 mi · ~14h 37m drive
Raleigh, NC533 mi · ~15h 24m drive
Miami, FL1146 mi · ~33h 6m drive
Orlando, FL943 mi · ~27h 15m drive
Tampa, FL974 mi · ~28h 8m drive
Nashville, TN415 mi · ~11h 59m drive
New Orleans, LA882 mi · ~25h 29m drive
Richmond, VA488 mi · ~14h 6m drive
Chicago, IL154 mi · ~4h 27m drive
Detroit, MI86 mi · ~2h 29m drive
Minneapolis, MN481 mi · ~13h 54m drive
St. Louis, MO372 mi · ~10h 45m drive
Kansas City, MO557 mi · ~16h 5m drive
Indianapolis, IN170 mi · ~4h 55m drive
Columbus, OH161 mi · ~4h 39m drive
Cleveland, OH155 mi · ~4h 29m drive
Milwaukee, WI183 mi · ~5h 17m drive
Dallas, TX918 mi · ~26h 31m drive
Houston, TX1032 mi · ~29h 49m drive
Austin, TX1086 mi · ~31h 22m drive
San Antonio, TX1160 mi · ~33h 31m drive
Los Angeles, CA1896 mi · ~54h 46m drive
San Francisco, CA2008 mi · ~58h 1m drive
San Diego, CA1884 mi · ~54h 26m drive
Seattle, WA1871 mi · ~54h 3m drive
Portland, OR1898 mi · ~54h 50m drive
Denver, CO1072 mi · ~30h 58m drive
Phoenix, AZ1602 mi · ~46h 17m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1410 mi · ~40h 44m drive
Honolulu, HI4402 mi · ~127h 10m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Hillsdale College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications