Hillsdale College lies two hours west of Detroit, MI. Its liberal arts curriculum focuses heavily on Western Civilization, philosophy, U.S. government and history, and the study of Great Books. Hillsdale has partnered with a number of Washington, DC-based think tanks and K-12 charter schools in order to offer academic and professional opportunities to students. During the American Civil War, many Hillsdale students enlisted in the Union Army, and it remains one of the few colleges founded before the Civil War that has not been forced to close.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,486
Tuition: $26,742
General Education Requirements: All students must complete at least one course in composition, literature, U.S. government or history, mathematics, natural science, Western Civilization, philosophy, theology, and fine arts.
Academic and Financial Highlights:
ACTA’s Assessment: Hillsdale is an affordable and rigorous academic powerhouse when compared to Michigan’s large state institutions. The College offers a guided core curriculum, in contrast to a cafeteria-style curriculum, that prepares students with the practical and intellectual skills they need in order to be effective and informed citizens.
Bang for Your Buck highlights affordable and academically rigorous colleges and universities across the nation. At a time when student debt stands at more than $1.5 trillion, acquiring a useful set of skills at a reasonable price has never been more important for students entering an extremely competitive job market. Twice a month, ACTA recognizes a high-ranking institution from our What Will They Learn?® project for its commitment to low tuition rates and serious academic study.
Boston University has suspended admissions to humanities and social science Ph.D. programs for next year after agreeing to a new graduate student workers union contract with massive pay increases.
ACTA presented our 19th annual Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education to Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita at New York Law School and the first female president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Brayden Cagle is pursuing an alternative career path after high school. Instead of pondering Plato at a four-year college, he is apprenticing as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.