Private not-for-profit

Small

Hillsdale College SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range1340 to 1470

ACT Range30 to 33

Average GPA3.93

Acceptance Rate20.7%

Hillsdale is test-optional, but the score range still gives you a concrete target: a 1470 SAT or 33 ACT puts you near the top of the middle 50%. Pairing that with grades close to its 3.93 average helps you compete on the academic measures Hillsdale clearly values.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Hillsdale College facts and stats

Quick Facts

Hillsdale College enrolls 1,649 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. Hillsdale has a 97% freshman retention rate, well above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 90%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1.

Location

Hillsdale, MI

Undergrad Enrollment1,649

Freshman Retention97%

SettingSmall town

Student to Faculty Ratio8:1

Graduation Rate90%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Hillsdale?

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Key Hillsdale College application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

March 15

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

November 1

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

January 1

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Hillsdale, take your first SAT or ACT by spring of junior year so you can use summer and fall retakes to improve your superscore. For the November 1 Early Decision deadline, October is typically the last retake that can arrive in time.

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What you'll actually pay

Hillsdale is a private not-for-profit, so the same rate applies to all students. Tuition and fees are $33,189, and 30% of students receive aid. The average merit award is $21,835, and the FAFSA priority deadline is January 1.

Tuition and Fees$33,189

Room and Board$13,600

Average Merit Award$21,835

Application FeeN/A

Students on Aid30%

Average Aid Package$23,683

Average Debt at Grad$27,974

Hillsdale’s total cost of attendance is about $46,789, including tuition, fees, room, and board. About 30% of students receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $23,683. Merit awards average $21,835 for students who qualify. Graduates leave with an average debt of $27,974.