Hillsdale College vs. Michigan State

Should I go to Hillsdale College or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hillsdale College or Michigan State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Hillsdale College vs. Michigan State University comparison
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Michigan State University
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Overview

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Location Hillsdale, Michigan East Lansing, MI
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,678 50,023
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240
Religious Affiliation Undenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hillsdale.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $29,590 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $29,590 $41,778
Room & Board $12,500 $10,990
Avg Net Price $24,196 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $21,093 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 92%

Admission

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,017 53,341
Admitted 621 46,914
Acceptance Rate 20.6% 88%
Enrolled % 62.3% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.93 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 30/34 25/31
SAT Range 1360/1520 1160/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 15, 2025

Academics

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Graduation Rate - 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments - 68%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $25,484
Median Loan Payment N/A $263

Diversity

Hillsdale College Michigan State
% Men 52% 47%
% Women 48% 53%
Racial Diversity - Medium
HBCU No No
% White 0% 67%
% Black 0% 7%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 13%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Hillsdale College Michigan State
% In-State 21% 71%
% Out-of-State 78% 21%

Campus

Hillsdale College Michigan State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Hillsdale College based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 1,678 students)

Hillsdale College vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hillsdale College or Michigan State?

  • Hillsdale College is 94.8% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($29,590.00 vs. $15,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.2% higher at Michigan State than Hillsdale College ($41,778.00 vs. $29,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Hillsdale College ($22,803 vs. $24,196)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.7% lower than costs at Hillsdale College ($10,990 vs. $12,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hillsdale College than Michigan State University (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hillsdale College students is 142.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($21,093 vs. $8,684)

Hillsdale College vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hillsdale College or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or Hillsdale College .

  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Hillsdale College (20.6%)

Hillsdale College vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hillsdale College or Michigan State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Michigan State and Hillsdale College.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/