Hillsdale College has just enrolled the biggest and most selective freshman class in its history.
The admission rate dropped to a record low 23%, a 13% decrease from last year.
The class of 2025 boasts an all-time high of 427 freshmen, approximately 70 more students than the class of 2024. The admissions office reviewed a record 3,300 applications, according to its preliminary statistics.
“As Hillsdale becomes more well-known nationally for the type of education that we give and the principles that we stand for, more people are attracted to that in today’s climate and culture of higher education,” Zachary Miller ’11, senior director of admissions, said.
He also noted that Hillsdale’s decision to resume in-person classes in the fall of 2020 contributed to more attraction.
“This made a statement to a lot of students who were seeking that for their college experience,” he said.
The incoming freshmen class — 201 men and 226 women — have record-breaking credentials, with an average GPA of 3.93 and an average ACT score of 32. This score is an entire point higher than last year’s, although the admissions process did not require a standardized test as part of the admission process due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The class represents 41 states and six foreign countries, including Italy and Finland, with roughly 23% coming from Michigan. Last year, 27% of freshmen were Michiganders.
Diane Philipp, vice president of student affairs, said that in response to the high number of freshmen, the college chose to house incoming students in locations that minimized displacing residents who wanted to return to their previous residence hall or room. For instance, Koon switched from a men’s dorm to a women’s dorm and The Suites became male-only housing. More students moved off-campus this year, including sophomores who typically are not granted off-campus permission.
“It’s nice to have the freedom of living in your own house, but it’s also teaching me important skills such as paying bills and working with a landlord,” off-campus sophomore Alex Mitchell said.
Philipp said that the cafeteria will be expanding mobile ordering app usage to avoid overcrowding in the Knorr Family Dining Hall.
“Grab and Go will still be available in Kendall,” Philipp said. “We also placed the outdoor tent on the quad during these warmer August and September days so students could gather there to eat, study, or just hangout.”
Maddie Conover ’18, assistant director of upper Midwest recruitment, said applicants for the class of 2025 were likely attracted to Hillsdale because it stayed open when other schools did not.
“Because of the pandemic, students had to evaluate schools based on a new criteria, so I think more students were attracted to Hillsdale because they knew it would be in-person,” Conover said.
Conover said she looks for a love of academics and education beyond the utilitarian level in Hillsdale applicants.
Though the admissions office has a larger and more qualified pool of applicants from which to choose, it is still looking for the same things in the type of students it hopes to attract, according to Miller.
“We look for a student who is academically prepared for the rigors of a classical liberal arts education,” Miller said. “One who demonstrates that they are academically and intellectually curious. Students who love learning and want to embrace the type of thing that we do here.”
Miller said the admissions office also seeks students who are involved in their school, church, and community as such commitment demonstrates what they will contribute to the Hillsdale community.
“We want students who have a heart for service and who want to make a difference and an impact because that’s what we are looking for students to do on the Hillsdale campus,” Miller said. “Finally, we’re looking for students who are going to be conscientious citizens who understand, appreciate, and will abide by the Honor Code: students who will make Hillsdale proud by doing great things in their own respective communities after they graduate.”