Accessible2025-2026 admissions cycle

Hope College acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 79%, Hope College is an accessible private college in Michigan. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Hope College weighs, where it ranks among Michigan schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1260, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
79%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1260
of admitted students
Type
Private
Michigan
Selectivity in state
#19
of 32 in MI
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CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
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Will I get into Hope College?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Hope College, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Hope College?

Hope College admits most qualified applicants (around 79%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Hope College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Hope College hard to get into?

Hope College is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 79% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Hope College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Hope College, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Hope College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Hope College?

Hope College does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1260. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Hope College.

Calculate your chances at Hope College

What Hope College looks for

What Hope College weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Hope College leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Hope College's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Hope College

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Hope College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1250 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Hope College compares in Michigan

Hope College ranks #19 most selective of 32 schools in Michigan in our database.

Among the 32 Michigan schools we track, Hope College ranks #19 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Michigan (16%) and Hillsdale College (21%) sit nearby, which makes Michigan a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Michigan
16%acceptance · MI
Hillsdale College
21%acceptance · MI
Spring Arbor University
52%acceptance · MI
Lawrence Technological University
56%acceptance · MI
UM Dearborn
56%acceptance · MI
Alma College
57%acceptance · MI
Madonna University
63%acceptance · MI
Northwood University
65%acceptance · MI
See all Michigan schools →

Similar to Hope College

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Hope College with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Drexel University, Grand Canyon University, and Rider University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Drexel University
79%acceptance · PA
Grand Canyon University
79%acceptance · AZ
Rider University
79%acceptance · NJ
Anderson University (IN)
79%acceptance · IN
Concordia University St. Paul
79%acceptance · MN
Geneva College
79%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What does Hope College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Hope College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Hope College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Hope College's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Hope College?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Hope College specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Hope College?

Hope College reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.