Hillsdale College

It is extremely difficult to get into Hillsdale College. The college admitted 21% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 3,017 applications received in 2023, 621 students were offered admission.

If you are applying to Hillsdale College, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 3/15 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Students who apply to Hillsdale College for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than December 15.

Hillsdale College Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Hillsdale College's admissions stats.

Hillsdale College 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.9
Mean SAT Score	1421
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	28%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	30%
Waitlist	Yes

Hillsdale College Application Deadlines

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	3 15	December 15

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Applying Early to Hillsdale College?

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Hillsdale College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, which means 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 33%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 21%. In 2022, Hillsdale College admitted 113 of the 339 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply to college early to increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the 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.

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More on Hillsdale College Admissions

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Transferring to Hillsdale College

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Hillsdale College Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating 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're strong.

Admissions Factors at Hillsdale College

Wondering what factors are considered by Hillsdale College 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
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Interview	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Volunteer Work	Important
Work Experience	Important
Level of Applicant's Interest	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered

Make sure to check with Hillsdale College for more information on admission factors.

Hillsdale College Application Requirements

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	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Hillsdale College?

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.

Standardized Test Scores

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, 28% of Hillsdale College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 30% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Hillsdale College?

To be competitive with other Hillsdale College applicants, you should aim to earn between 1370 and 1480 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Hillsdale College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1480 and 25% of scored lower than 1370, 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 760 or higher and 75% of students scored 690 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 690 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.

More Information on Transferring to Hillsdale College

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

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Hillsdale College Admissions FAQs

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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 • DSST/DANTES

Does Hillsdale College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Hillsdale College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Hillsdale College?

❌ No, Hillsdale College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Hillsdale College's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Hillsdale College is 21%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Hillsdale College?

✅ Hillsdale College's early decision acceptance rate was 33% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Hillsdale College?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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