Published on: February 14th, 2023

Hillsdale College Sees Surge in Applications

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HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College undergraduate admissions has seen a more than 53% increase in applications over the past decade. Additionally, the yield rate — the percentage of admitted students who chose to enroll — has reached a new record of 62%. Even with increased selectivity, the college looks for more than high test scores when recruiting students. Hillsdale College continues to seek those who are academically serious, possess strong moral character, and are willing to work together in pursuit of the college’s mission.
 
“Hillsdale College’s commitment to a rigorous liberal arts curriculum that is rooted in the western tradition attracts students from all across the country,” said Zack Miller, senior director of admissions. “Hillsdale is a place for students to pursue truth and grow in character, and it stands out amongst other colleges and universities because of its mission and serious approach to the liberal arts.”
 
While the demand has increased, the qualities that the college looks for in an ideal candidate have stayed the same. The Admissions Office looks for important characteristics that determine the right fit for the college community — and a perfect test score is not necessarily one of them. The college seeks students who are:
  • Serious about their academic endeavors and have demonstrated success in rigorous coursework
  • Excited by the study of Great Ideas and are willing to join in on the “Great Conversation”
  • Willing to impact the college community through their involvement in student clubs, service, and leadership on campus
  • Committed to leading virtuous lives as called to by the Hillsdale College Honor Code 
At Hillsdale College, students pursue a classical liberal arts core curriculum. All students, regardless of major, take courses on the Great Books, Western and American Heritage, the U.S. Constitution, theology, philosophy, the fine arts, and the natural sciences.

“Students at Hillsdale can expect to spend about two years of their time in the core curriculum, together studying the great ideas of our heritage,” said Miller. “While many colleges are moving away from strong core curriculums and the liberal arts, Hillsdale boldly stands by those pursuits because the study of timeless and permanent truths helps us better understand how we ought to order our lives toward the good, the true, and the beautiful.”

About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.