Lafayette College vs Hillsdale College
Lafayette College and Hillsdale College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Lafayette, a private liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on interdisciplinary studies. In contrast, Hillsdale, a private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan, emphasizes a classical education rooted in the Western tradition. With acceptance rates of 33% and 48%, respectively, both colleges offer a competitive admissions process. While Lafayette's popular majors include engineering, economics, and biology, Hillsdale's strengths lie in political science, economics, and history. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these colleges' student demographics, graduation rates, and other key differences, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Hillsdale College |
![]() Lafayette College |
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Overview |
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Location | Hillsdale, Michigan | Easton, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Undenominational | Presbyterian |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 23.7% | 40.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$25
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$65 |
SAT range | 1340 - 1510 | 1300 - 1460 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 30 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 22.0% | 28.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 38.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,994 | 8,262 |
Total number of admissions given out | 709 | 3,366 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 397 | 782 |
Yield rate | 56.0% | 23.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $45,382 | $75,934 |
Average net price | $24,057 | $38,754 |
Tuition | $28,730 | $55,874 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,020
Meal plan:
$6,120
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Room/dormitory:
$10,308
Meal plan:
$6,362
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $20,535 |
61.0%
Average amount $34,668 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
26.0%
Average amount $4,491 |
Students taking out private loans |
34.0%
Average amount $10,497 |
7.0%
Average amount $23,831 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
2,725
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
Graduate students |
87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity | N/A |
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 82.6% |
International students | N/A | 7.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,124 | 2,510 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Mississippi Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 87.6% | 87.9% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | 3.9% | 9.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | N/A |
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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