Hillsdale College vs University of Michigan

University of Michigan is the more selective of the two at 16%, versus 21% at Hillsdale College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Hillsdale College
Highly selective
21%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1400
Private · Michigan
University of Michigan
Highly selective
16%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1520
Public · Michigan

Hillsdale College vs University of Michigan: the differences that matter

How Hillsdale College and University of Michigan stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

University of Michigan is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 16% of applicants versus 21% at Hillsdale College, a gap of roughly 5 percentage points. Treat University of Michigan as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Hillsdale College leans more on application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, while University of Michigan puts more weight on class rank, standardized test scores. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Hillsdale College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1400 and University of Michigan's is around 1520. Admitted students at University of Michigan post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorHillsdale CollegeUniversity of Michigan
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Class rankconsideredimportant
Standardized test scoresconsideredvery important
Application essayvery importantimportant
Recommendationsvery importantimportant
Extracurricular activitiesimportantconsidered
Talent / abilityimportantconsidered
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Hillsdale College or University of Michigan harder to get into?

University of Michigan is harder to get into, with a 16% acceptance rate versus 21% at Hillsdale College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Hillsdale College and University of Michigan?

Hillsdale College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1400, and University of Michigan's is around 1520.

What are my chances at Hillsdale College and University of Michigan?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.