Hillsdale College students are the most religious in the nation, according to the 2025 edition of the Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges report.
“While we are pleased to receive these top rankings from the Princeton Review, it’s important to note that such accolades are subjective and are not something we chase,” Provost Christopher VanOrman said. “We are confident that Hillsdale’s unique culture, rooted in a classical liberal arts education and a commitment to intellectual and spiritual growth, offers a truly exceptional learning environment.”
Hillsdale also ranked second in friendliest students and third in most conservative students.
The Princeton Review is a tutoring, college test prep, and college admissions services company which publishes several rankings of American universities.
The report, which was released Tuesday, ranks the top 25 colleges in 50 categories based on student survey data. The list includes 390 colleges and makes up 15% of American four-year institutions.
The Princeton Review said 168,000 students took the 89-question survey, which was about 430 students per school on average.
The surveys were conducted in 2023-24 and could include the previous two academic years, according to the Princeton Review.
To rank the most religious students category, students were asked how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement “students are very religious.”
Hillsdale reached its highest rank in the most religious students category in at least the past ten years and increased from second place in the 2024 edition.
“We are committed to studying the oldest things and the highest things. There is nothing older or higher than our God, so naturally our students gravitate towards him,” College Chaplain Adam Rick said.
Senior Noah Schmidt has been involved in the campus ministry Intervarsity since he was a freshman. He said the strong religious community at Hillsdale bolsters the faith of the students.
“We are blessed to have the vibrant faith community that we do at Hillsdale, and it makes our campus an amazing place,” Schmidt said. “The many clubs and organizations provide students with great opportunities to grow in their faith and strengthen their relationship with Jesus. There is something for everyone to get involved in faith life here at Hillsdale.”
Hillsdale ranked in the top 25 colleges in 14 categories, including sixth in the “These Students Love Their Colleges” category, and tenth in best college newspaper.
“I’m proud of the student writers and editors of The Collegian for all their hard work last year,” said Maria Servold, assistant director of the Dow Journalism Program. “We continue to rank among the top student newspapers in the country, and that reflects the talent and perseverance of our journalism students.”
Earlier this summer, The Hillsdale Collegian earned top awards in a state-wide college newspaper competition by the Michigan Press Association, including number one in News-Only Photo, Feature Photo, and Front Page Design.
Other awards included second and third place in the best writer category, and second, third, and honorable mention in feature story.
The Collegian also earned second place in front page design, honorable mention in news story, and honorable mention in non-front page design.