Hillsdale College

Student scholarships and grants hillsdale college has been committed to independence since its founding in 1844. When a 1984 u.s. Supreme court ruling threatened hillsdale with the entire range of federal regulations because some of its students received federal financial aid, the college resolved that not a single hillsdale student would accept even one cent of federal grants, loans, or scholarships. Instead, hillsdale established the privately funded student independence scholarship and loan fund in place of taxpayer-funded aid for deserving students who seek the kind of classical liberal arts education offered at hillsdale. Since the student independence scholarship and loan fund was established in 1985, hillsdale has replaced federal and state grants and loans with over $149 million in private awards. The cost of replacing government aid was over $7.1 million in the 2023-2024 academic year; this total assisted 493 students. In addition, the college awarded approximately $31.8 million in private scholarships that year on the basis of financial need, academic merit, campus leadership, athletic and music participation, and other qualifications. Approximately 99 percent of hillsdale students qualify for and receive some form of institutional aid.

Student services hillsdale's student services include the admissions office, career services, academic services, student affairs, and health and wellness services. The admissions office receives an increasing number and higher caliber of applications each year, leading to a selective acceptance rate of 20 percent for the most recent academic year. The office emphasizes a holistic approach to application reviews and conducts personal interviews with almost all applicants. The career services office helps students develop their strengths and introduces them to opportunities through mentoring, network-building, job fairs, and other programs. The college has a 98 percent five-year graduate placement average. A survey of the 2023 graduating class showed that 73 percent were employed, 25 percent in continuing education and graduate programs, and 2 percent in military and volunteer service. Hillsdale's student affairs department oversees a number of student interest groups, academic honoraries, volunteer organizations, and the college's four fraternities and three sororities. Health and wellness services provides medical and mental health services to students, faculty, and staff.

These additional program service expenses include, but are not limited to, auxiliary services (bookstore, residential, dining) and plan and maintenance of campus grounds and buildings.