Hillsdale College vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Hillsdale College and University of Wisconsin Madison? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Wisconsin Madison

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Hillsdale College Distant Town
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hillsdale College 1,792
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Hillsdale College Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hillsdale College
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hillsdale College Undenominational
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Hillsdale College Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hillsdale College
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Hillsdale College $13,600
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Hillsdale College $23,993
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hillsdale College $24,328
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hillsdale College 99%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hillsdale College 3,181
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Hillsdale College 659
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hillsdale College 20.7%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Hillsdale College 55.5%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hillsdale College 1410
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hillsdale College 31
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hillsdale College 3.93
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hillsdale College A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hillsdale College Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hillsdale College Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Hillsdale College 30/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Hillsdale College 1320/1490
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hillsdale College Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hillsdale College 8:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hillsdale College
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hillsdale College 51%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Hillsdale College 49%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Hillsdale College No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hillsdale College 19%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hillsdale College 77%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Hillsdale College Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Hillsdale College
  • Wisconsin No
  • Meal Plan
  • Hillsdale College Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Hillsdale College No
  • Wisconsin No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Hillsdale College
  • Wisconsin Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Hillsdale College based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 1,792 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsdale College is located in Hillsdale, Michigan (Distant Town setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Hillsdale College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsdale College 8:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Hillsdale College vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hillsdale College or Wisconsin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Hillsdale College ($14,235 vs. $23,993).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hillsdale College are 3.7% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($13,600 vs. $14,124).
  • Hillsdale College is 186% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $21,586 more per year; $33,189.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at Wisconsin than at Hillsdale College (about $8,914 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $33,189.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hillsdale College than at University of Wisconsin Madison (99% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hillsdale College students is 37.1% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($24,328 vs. $17,741).

Hillsdale College vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hillsdale College or Wisconsin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wisconsin and Hillsdale College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 40 points higher than at Hillsdale College (1410).
  • Incoming Hillsdale College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Wisconsin (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hillsdale College 1320/1490; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hillsdale College 30/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hillsdale College - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Hillsdale College (20.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.5% at Hillsdale College vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Hillsdale College vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hillsdale College and Wisconsin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.