Hillsdale College Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, is an independent liberal arts college in Michigan known for its commitment to constitutional principles and traditional curriculum. Hillsdale's core curriculum includes extensive study of Western heritage and great books, with particular strengths in politics, economics, and classical education. The college operates independently of government funding, upholding its principles of self-governance. Hillsdale's beautiful 200-acre campus features classical architecture and the Herbert Henry Dow Science Building.

The college's Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., provides unique opportunities for internships and study. Hillsdale's student body is known for its intellectual curiosity and civic engagement. The college's NCAA Division II athletics and numerous student organizations create a vibrant campus life. Alumni include statesmen, journalists, and educators who champion the principles of liberty and virtue that Hillsdale upholds.

Hillsdale College Acceptance Rate

Hillsdale College is one of the renowned universities in the USA. It is very competitive to get admission to. The acceptance rate of Hillsdale College is 20.58%. This means that only 21 out of every 100 applicants are admitted.

How Competitive are Hillsdale College Admissions?

• Highly Competitive: Applicants need strong academics and extracurriculars.
• GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
• A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to be excellent in every area to get selected. However, since the acceptance rate is not below 10%, you still have a chance if your GPA is not perfect. You can make up for a GPA deficiency by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses. Meeting Hillsdale College\'s GPA and standardized test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial, as failing to do so may prevent your application from moving forward. These requirements act as automatic filters, so meeting them is vital; failing to do so makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.

Hillsdale College Admission Requirements

Hillsdale College GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Hillsdale College is 3.93. This indicates extreme selectivity in admissions.

To have strong chances, you must aim for straight A’s in all courses.

If your GPA is between 3.63 and 3.93, then you need a high SAT or ACT score to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.53 GPA to have a realistic chance of admission.

Can I Get Into Hillsdale College Without SAT Or ACT?: Hillsdale College considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

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Hillsdale College SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Hillsdale College Average SAT Score: 1440
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Hillsdale College is 1440 on the 1600 SAT scale.

Hillsdale College SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it very Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do very well to score 1440 on the SAT.

Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1520 SAT or 34 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Hillsdale College allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.

If your score is below 1360, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Hillsdale College. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

Hillsdale College SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	715	670	760
SAT Reading	725	690	760
SAT Composite	1440	1360	1520

It means that if you have scored less than 1360 then you are below most of the admitted students at Hillsdale College and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1520 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1450

Can I get into Hillsdale College with a 1500 SAT?

With a 1500 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Hillsdale College are good but the admission staff at Hillsdale College tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Hillsdale College ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Hillsdale College is 32.

Hillsdale College ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Hillsdale College very Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do very well to score 32 on the ACT.

Hillsdale College ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	30	27	32
ACT English	34	33	35
ACT Composite	32	30	34

Can I get into Hillsdale College with a 34 ACT?

With a 34 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Hillsdale College are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 32.

Hillsdale College Profile

Name: Hillsdale College

Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)

How can I get a scholarship?

0% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 0 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Hillsdale College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Hillsdale College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Hillsdale College as your choice in the form.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Pepperdine University	Pepperdine University, CA	1399	30
Colorado College	Colorado College, CO	1402	31
Colorado School of Mines	Colorado School of Mines, CO	1403	32
United States Air Force Academy	United States Air Force Academy, CO	1401	31
Connecticut College	Connecticut College, CT	1427	32
Wesleyan University	Wesleyan University, CT	1426	33
George Washington University	George Washington University, DC	1420	33
University of Florida	University of Florida, FL	1397	31
University of Miami	University of Miami, FL	1409	32
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, IN	1398	30

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Occidental College	Occidental College, CA	1434	33
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL	1440	32
Tulane University of Louisiana	Tulane University of Louisiana, LA	1443	32
Babson College	Babson College, MA	1434	32
Mount Holyoke College	Mount Holyoke College, MA	1432	32

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Claremont McKenna College	Claremont McKenna College, CA	1514	34
Pomona College	Pomona College, CA	1520	34
University of Southern California	University of Southern California, CA	1520	34
Georgetown University	Georgetown University, DC	1507	34
Emory University	Emory University, GA	1493	33

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

• Accounting and Related Services
• Applied Mathematics
• Area Studies
• Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
• Biology, General
• Chemistry
• Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
• Communication and Media Studies
• Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
• Economics

Frequently Asked Questions About Hillsdale College Admissions

Full list of All degree programs offered by Hillsdale College.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2025, US Department of Education's latest 2025 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.

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