If you are applying to Hillsdale College, the regular decision application deadline is March 15 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.
The following is an overiew of some of Hillsdale College's admissions stats.
Hillsdale College 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.9 |
Mean SAT Score | 1421 |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 22% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 38% |
Waitlist | Yes |
These are the application deadlines for Hillsdale College.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Yes | November 1 | December 1 |
Early Decision II | –– | –– | –– |
Early Action | No | –– | –– |
Regular Decision | Yes | March 15 | –– |
Hillsdale College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 1.
The early decision acceptance rate at Hillsdale College is 38%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 24%. In 2022, Hillsdale College admitted 122 of the 322 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply to college early because they believe it will increase their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show that you are very interested in a school.
➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
Hillsdale College is an extremely difficult school to get into. Hillsdale College evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.
In 2021, Hillsdale College accepted 24% of all applicants, about 709 from the 2,994 applicants.
Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like Hillsdale College, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.
Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.
In 2022, Hillsdale College waitlisted 196 students and 93 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 5 eventually got off the waitlist.
Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you stand out.
What does Hillsdale College consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Work Experience | Important |
Level of Applicant's Interest | Important |
Interview | Important |
Recommendation(s) | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Talent/Ability | Considered |
Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
Make sure to check with Hillsdale College for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Hillsdale College, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Hillsdale College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale) | 3.5 | |||
Interview | √ | |||
Other Requirements | √ | campus visit, college prep courses | ||
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 2 | |||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Students admitted to Hillsdale College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Hillsdale College considers standardized tests scores during the admissions process.
Hillsdale College is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 22% of Hillsdale College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 38% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Hillsdale College applicants, you should strive to earn between 1340 and 1495 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Hillsdale College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1495 and 25% of scored lower than 1340, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Hillsdale College student is 1421.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Hillsdale College students scored 750 or higher and 75% of students scored 680 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Hillsdale College students scored 760 or higher, and 75% scored a 680 or higher.
To be most competitive at Hillsdale College, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Hillsdale College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.
A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Hillsdale College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Hillsdale College.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Hillsdale College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Spring Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Hillsdale College?
❌ Students who are admitted to Hillsdale College must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.
Does Hillsdale College accept transfer credits?
✅ Hillsdale College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Hillsdale College accepts:
• CLEP subject tests
Does Hillsdale College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Hillsdale College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Hillsdale College?
❌ No, Hillsdale College is test optional, so you can choose whether or not to include your ACT or SAT scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.
What is Hillsdale College's acceptance rate?
✅ Hillsdale College's acceptance rate is 24%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Hillsdale College?
✅ Hillsdale College's early decision acceptance rate was 38% in 2021.
Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.
Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Hillsdale College
Explore other colleges in Michigan or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Hillsdale College? Hillsdale College is a selective institution. The Hillsdale College acceptance rate is 24%. This means that the institution accepts 23 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Hillsdale College is Mar 15.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Hillsdale College is Mar 15.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
34 and Above
30 to 34
30 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to Hillsdale College is 32. Students with an ACT score of 34 and above have a good chance of getting into Hillsdale College. Students with an ACT score that falls between 30 and 34 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 30 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1495 and Above
1340 to 1495
1340 and Less
The median SAT score for Hillsdale College students is 1421. Applicants with SAT scores of 1495 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Hillsdale College, while applicants with SAT scores between 1340 to 1495 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1340 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Hillsdale College.
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At Hillsdale College, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.93. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!
Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!
Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.