
Holland, MIprivate nonprofithope.edu
Admit rate has ranged 76%–92% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Hope College is a small, Reformed Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan, known for its tight-knit community, strong pre-professional programs (especially pre-med and business), and a campus where 97% of students live on-site. With an 80% acceptance rate and a focus on undergraduate research, it balances accessibility with academic rigor, though its $30K+ net price and middling graduation rates (46%) suggest financial and retention challenges.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Hope College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate hovering around 80% (sources vary between 79% and 87%). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1090–1310 on the SAT or 25–30 on the ACT. Unlike cutthroat liberal arts colleges, Hope’s admissions process is holistic, with no evidence of tracking demonstrated interest. Notably, 94% of graduates secure employment or further education within six months—a selling point emphasized in admissions materials.
Hope offers 90+ majors and pre-professional programs, with business, psychology, and engineering as the most popular. Its pre-med and pre-dental tracks have a strong reputation, with alumni noting their preparation for graduate programs at universities like Michigan. The curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts, but with a pragmatic bent—. Small class sizes (no data on student-faculty ratio, but it’s a given at this scale) and undergrad research opportunities are highlights.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
This is a residential campus—97% of students live on-site, fostering a communal vibe. Hundreds of student organizations range from cultural groups (like MESA, promoting multicultural dialogue) to intramural sports. The Office of Student Life aggressively promotes involvement, with Instagram posts showcasing events like "Coffeehouse" performances and service projects. Well-being resources are a focus, though some students critique the limited off-campus options in Holland (population: 34,000).
The six-month placement rate is 94%, but the graduation rate lags at 46%—a red flag, though common for regional liberal arts colleges. Alumni earn $41,596 one year out and $58,327 after five years, outperforming national averages for small colleges. Notably, a study found no earnings boost from merit aid alone, suggesting outcomes hinge more on program choice (e.g., business grads fare better than humanities majors).
Hope’s net price averages $25,800–$30,700/year after aid, with 50% of students receiving financial aid (average package: $39,866). International students can expect $25K–$35K in annual scholarships, but gaps remain—families earning $30K–$48K still pay ~$17K/year. The college meets 79% of demonstrated need, but the sticker price ($56K+) and middling outcomes may give pause to debt-averse students.
Hope’s Christian identity (Reformed tradition) permeates campus life without feeling dogmatic—think service-learning trips, not chapel requirements. Its undergrad-focused research culture and strong pre-health pipelines set it apart from similar Midwestern liberal arts colleges. The downside? Low graduation rates and high costs for a school with regional (not national) name recognition. Ideal for students seeking a tight-knit, faith-adjacent community with pragmatic academics.