Hillsdale College

Programs: Student instruction - hillsdale college boasts a curriculum as extraordinary as its history. At the center of this curriculum is the core - the set of courses that each student takes, and that all students share. The idea behind a core curriculum is that all men and women, in order to be well-rounded individuals and good citizens, should share a certain core knowledge and understanding. Hillsdale's core curriculum contains the essence of the classical liberal arts education. Through it, our students are introduced to the history, the philosophical and theological ideas, the works of literature and the scientific discoveries that set western civilization apart. Students of the liberal arts learn to think well, communicate effectively and observe intelligently the workings of the physical world. Behind the idea of the liberal arts is the idea that truth is the basis of knowledge. Knowledge based on truth leads to caring about virtue and caring about virtue allows us to be truly free. The opposite idea - the idea that freedom simply means the ability to follow our appetites and passions - is what the founders of america condemned as "license. " a liberal arts education teaches us to distinguish liberty from license. America's founders, following the greatest thinkers of our western heritage, teach us that a people who confuse liberty and license will not be capable of maintaining free government. Thus, liberal arts education is not only essential for us to fulfill our individual potential, but it is also necessary for the preservation of free society. Hillsdale's faculty is the key to its academic excellence. We seek and attract faculty who are devoted, above all, to their students. They are serious about learning. They are dedicated to the search for truth. They are in the fullest sense of the term, a "teaching" faculty. Hillsdale college offers 31 traditional majors, seven interdisciplinary majors, three interdisciplinary minors and eight pre-professional programs. Students at hillsdale are prepared to become leaders worthy of their heritage. They come to understand what it means to deserve freedom and what it takes to preserve it. They come to appreciate their debt to their forebears for the blessings of liberty that they enjoy, and to recognize their duty to their children to pass those blessings on.

student scholarships and grants - hillsdale college follows its historic mission to provide "all persons who wish, irrespective of nation, color, or sex, a literary and scientific education," as it has since it was founded in 1844, independently, without the strings and entanglements that come with government subsidies. It is famous for its refusal to accept federal taxpayer funding, even in the form of federal student aid. In 1984, the supreme court handed down a decision in the case of "grove city v. Bell" that threatened hillsdale college's independence. The court ruled that any educational institution with even one student who received federal aid would be considered an "indirect recipient institution and thereby subject to federal regulations. Hillsdale's board of trustees acted swiftly and decisively to uphold the school's longstanding mission. They notified the department of education that hillsdale college would not accept federal tuition assistance for its students, but would replace it with privately funded scholarships and grants. Hillsdale college is unique in this respect among american institutions of higher learning. In the fall of 1985, hillsdale college's student independence grant and loan fund was established. It continues to this day, assisting hundreds of deserving students each year who desire a rigorous classical liberal arts education. The net cost of replacing federal financial aid since 1985 exceeds $100 million. Over $24 million was awarded in privately funded scholarships and grants during the 2016/2017 academic year. Over $7 million of this total is direct replacement of the federal and state grants, scholarships that hillsdale students would receive at nearly every other college or university in the nation. Approximately 96 percent of hillsdale students qualify for and receive financial assistance.

student services - an integral part of the hillsdale college experience is our student service area. The first encounter is with our admissions office which continues to have a high quantity of applicants and each year the competition for admission to hillsdale is increasing. As the result hillsdale is able to be more selective in their acceptance of students. Our fall 2016 freshman class of 381 students joined a current student body (total enrollment 1440) representing 48 states and 13 foreign countries. Further, an average act composite score of 30. 17 and 1984 on the sat is indicative of the high quality of student hillsdale is recruiting. Hillsdale is not just about life in the classroom. Because preparation for leadership is one of hillsdale's primary goals, some of the most important lessons can be learned outside the classroom. Whether it is athletics, student government, volunteer opportunities, greek life or the fine and performing arts, students are involved in a variety of co-curricular activities. The goal (great opportunities for assistance and leadership) program is hillsdale's primary volunteer program. Through it, our students dedicated over 20,000 hours of service in the local community and surrounding region during the past year. Activities include tutoring, mentoring, basic living assistance and simple companionship. Nearly one-third of hillsdale's student body is involved in one of our seven national fraternities and sororities. These greek chapters encourage philanthropic activities, develop leadership skills and provide a special opportunity to form lifelong friendships. Hillsdale's placement record for graduating seniors has averaged 94 percent over the past three years with the graduating class (spring 2016) having a 94% placement rate within six months of graduation including 24% attending graduate or professional school.

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.