Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Hillsdale admits about 1 in 5 applicants (21%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 95% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (21% and 21%).
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
56% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Wait list: 151 offered a place, 46 accepted, 30 admitted (65% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 42% admitted
120 of 284 early applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding)
Where you stand
How Hillsdale reads a record
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is considered. 94% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 32% of first-years sent an SAT and 34% an ACT. Recommends 3 years of foreign language and 4 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Considered
- Other tests
- Considered
Transferring in
25% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 21% of first-year applicants
137 applied · 34 admitted
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by April 1 for fall 2019.
- Priority date: January 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- $300 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 0 / 2) | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 0 | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 | 4 |
| History | 3 | 4 |
| Academic electives | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 23 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2018 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.89
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.086%
- 3.75–3.998%
- 3.50–3.743%
- 3.25–3.492%
- 3.00–3.241%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 4.0–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 86.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 8.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 3.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 2.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 1.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Hillsdale College Common Data Set 2018–19, Fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1405 on the SAT, 235 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Hillsdale College Common Data Set 2018–19, Fall 2018;Hillsdale College Common Data Set 2018–19, 2018–19;Hillsdale College Common Data Set 2018–19, Fall 2019 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)