Hope College is a private liberal arts college located in Holland, Michigan. It was established in 1851 and received its charter in 1866. It is the only private, four-year undergraduate college for liberal arts with national accreditation in all four arts i.e. arts, dance, music, and theatre. Also, it is among the only 286 institutions in the U.S. to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest honor society in the country.

The college offers 90 majors, minors and pre-professional programs in 3 main subject areas including Natural and Applied Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities. It is the first, private liberal arts college with accredited programs in all the 4 areas of fine arts i.e. art, music, dance and theatre. Only students of Hope College can participate in the George F. Baker Scholars Program. It is ranked #1 in top private colleges in Michigan, best liberal arts colleges and best christian college according to Niche Best Colleges. Overall, it is a very prestigious institution for studying in the U.S.

Hope College Campus

Hope’s medical school acceptance rate is almost 30% above the national average rate. 82% of the graduates who participated in the survey were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. In the Forbes list 2023, the college has made its place in the top 38% of America’s top colleges and 47th in the Midwest. The College is also ranked in Top 50 Most Affordable Private Colleges in Money Magazine for offering great education at reasonable prices. Overall, Hope College is a renowned name among the institutions under the U.S. Education System.

Hope College Rankings

Hope College has a good reputation among institutions of the U.S. education system. The latest rankings of the college are given below:

U.S. News and World Report 2023

  • #112 in Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.
  • #145 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
  • #72 in the Best Undergraduate Engineering Program
  • #37 out of 55 colleges for Outstanding Research.

THE World University Rankings

  • =248th in the U.S. College Rankings 2023

Highlights

College Type Private
Establishment Year 1851
Location Holland, Michigan
Campus Setting Suburban
Total Enrollment 3,056
Acceptance Rate 86%
Retention Rate 91%
Graduation Rate 81%
Mode of Program Full-time, Part-time, Online
Campus Housing Capacity 96%
Financial Aid Merit-based scholarships
Mode of Application Hope Application/ Common Application
Admission Helpdesk Phone: +1 616-395-7000
admissions@hope.edu

Hope College Campus

  • Hope College’s suburban campus is spread over 125-acres of land.
  • The campus of the college is blocks away from downtown Holland and just a few minutes away from Lake Michigan beaches.
  • The Student Activities Committee conducts a host of events like concert series, short trips to places like Chicago and Detroit, films, comedy shows and improv, etc.
  • Many recreational outdoor events are also conducted like Drive-in-movie, Winter Fantasia, Homecoming and Spring Fling.
  • The campus features include a bookstore, health center and a coffeehouse where students put up weekly shows.
  • The Princeton Review 2023 edition has included the college in the Guide to 413 Green Colleges due to its sustainable practices on campus.

Hope College Residence

  • Hope College has 11 residence halls for its students.
  • Room options include traditional community, suit, cluster-style residence halls, apartments, and cottage.
  • Cook hall is predominantly occupied by upperclassmen while all other residence halls are either for freshmen, sophomore, or both.
  • Options for male only, female only as well as co-ed residence halls are available to provide students a comfortable environment.
  • Cottage and apartment options are available for junior or senior students.
  • Most cottages and apartments are equipped with furnished living rooms, kitchen with appliances like a refrigerator and stove, dining table and chairs.
  • Students are mostly assigned double rooms with twin beds (XL-size), desk, chair and dresser for every resident.

Hope College Courses

  • Hope College offers a set of diversified courses in the fields of Natural & Applied Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities.
  • The college offers specialization in more than 90 major, minor and pre-professional programs.
  • It provides an opportunity to let their students learn through experiences in more than 300 study abroad programs and internships in more than 60 countries.
  • Hope is the only college in Michigan whose business students can participate in the George F. Baker Scholars Program which allows students to be a part of the world outside classrooms through internships.

Hope College Application Process

Hope College had an acceptance rate of 86% in the fall of 2023. Admission to the college can be easy as the chances of applications being rejected are low. Every application is assessed taking into consideration a certain set of criteria which include academic performance, quality and strength of past curriculum, personal conduct and leadership skills and demonstrated service.

How to Apply?

International students who aspire to take admissions at Hope College are expected to follow the below mentioned set of deadlines and procedures accompanied by providing the college with a certain set of requested documents:

Application portal: Hope Application or Common Application

Application fee: 35 USD

Application deadline: November 1 (Applications are available from August 1)

Admission Requirements: The following documents are required at the time of admission:

  • High school transcript and report.
  • Official transcripts from any post-secondary school previously attended.
  • Form of Financial Support
  • Scores of tests required to study in the U.S.
  • Proof of proficiency in English: One of the following test scores may be accepted:
Test Minimum Requirements
TOEFL 79 with no sub-score less than 18
IELTS 6.5 with no sub-score less than 6
Duolingo English Test 100
PTE 58 with no band below 53
GTEC 1200

Hope College Cost of Attendance

The table given below shows a set of expenses incurred during the course tenure in college:

Expenditure Item Cost
Tuition fees 36,300 USD
Room charges 5,020 USD
Board (21 meals per week) 5,920 USD
Activity & Support Service Fee 350 USD
Indirect cost like books, travel, and personal expenses (depends on personal lifestyle) 2,560 - 3,030 USD

Hope College Scholarships/Financial Aid

  • Hope College offers several scholarships to international students to study in the U.S. The amount awarded through such scholarships is based on the cumulative GPA, SAT/ ACT score.
  • The common application used for the application also serves as the application scholarship.
  • International students are eligible to get financial aid and scholarships ranging from 3,000 USD to 15,000 USD per year.
  • One can always apply for any of the below-mentioned scholarships by fulfilling the required criteria:
Name of Scholarship Eligibility Criteria Award Amount
Presidential Scholarship 3.6 GPA and 28 ACT/ 1300 SAT score 13,000 USD per year
Distinguished Scholar Award 3.6 GPA and 26 ACT/ 1230 SAT score 11,000 USD per year
Alumni Honors Scholarship 3.4 GPA and 24 ACT/ 1160 SAT score 10,000 USD per year
Anchor Award 3.2 GPA and 22 ACT/ 1100 SAT score 5,000 USD per year

Hope College Alumni Network

After graduation or on completion of at least 45 credits, the students become members of the Alumni association which is a free and an automatic part. This helps them to stay in touch and be a part of the college lifelong. Below mentioned are a few advantages of being an alumni member of the college:

  • Career support
  • Access to Hope college connections
  • A discount of 25% for regular semester and summer courses
  • An opportunity to join the Global Travel program
  • An invitation to be a part of all the college events and lectures.
  • Access to the college library

Some notable alumni members of the college include:

  • Pete Hoekstra – U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands
  • Annette Ziegler – Supreme Court Justice of Wisconsin
  • Rachel Reenstra – American comedian
  • Sufjan Stevens – American singer
  • A. J. Muste – Political activist

Hope College Placements

The Boerigter Center for Calling and Career of the Hope College works to assist students to plan, prepare and pursue their desired career. It guides students by helping them write resumes, cover letters, letters of recommendation, establish business connections, learn to dress for success, build a strong LinkedIn profile, etc. It monitors internships, volunteering opportunities and job openings for students post-graduation. 96% of the college graduates were employed within 6 months from graduation. Graduates of the Hope College earn a median salary of 47,400 USD.

The following statistics speak of the students success after Hope College:

  • 96% of the students tend to find jobs or in graduate schools within 6 months.
  • 86% of those students employed are working in their fields of study.
  • 93% of the students participate in experiential learning during their studies.
  • 98% of the students were accepted to the first or second choice of graduate school.
  • The median starting salary of Hope College graduates is 47,400 USD as per the U.S. News and World Report.

The college helps the students in getting placed through the alumni network. The college also has links with the job searching initiative called “Handshake” which assists graduates in getting jobs. It also helps students in resume writing, building a profile, getting letters of recommendations, networking opportunities, looking for internships, volunteering opportunities and job openings.

FAQs

Ques. What GPA is required for admission to Hope College?

Ans. An average GPA of 3.86 is ideal for admission to Hope College.

Ques. What is Hope College known for?

Ans. Hope College is renowned for undergraduate research. It is ranked #37 out of 55 institutions for undergraduate research/ creative project opportunities. It is recognised among universities like Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, MIT and Northwestern.

Ques. What is the tuition for Hope College?

Ans. The tuition for Hope College for 2023-24 is 36,300 USD.

Ques. How hard is it to get admission to Hope College?

Ans. Hope College is relatively a less selective institution. It had an acceptance rate of 86% in fall 2023.

Ques. What are some important admission considerations?

Ans. Some important admission considerations include high school GPA, academic records, test scores, completion of college preparatory programs and English language proficiency.

Ques. What is the retention rate for Hope College?

Ans. The retention rate for full-time students attending Hope College is 91%.

Ques. What is the graduation rate for Hope College?

Ans. The overall graduation rate for students attending Hope College is 81%.

Ques. What are the indirect costs for attending Hope College?

Ans. Indirect costs related to books, travel and personal expenses ranges from 2,560 USD to 3,030 USD depending on the preferences of the student.

Ques. How are international students awarded financial aid?

Ans. International students who complete the application by February 1 will be considered for financial aid based on the overall evaluation of the admission application. No additional application is required to apply for scholarships. Selected students will receive the scholarship offer along with the acceptance letter.

Ques. How much is the average financial aid for international students at Hope College?

Ans. The average financial aid for international students range from 15,000 USD to 25,000 USD per year.