Rankings and Recognitions
鶹Ƶվ is widely recognized as an excellent institution of higher education.
Among the Nation’s Best Colleges
U.S. News & World Report
Among the best in the nation: Hope is ranked #84 (up six spots) in according to U.S. News & World Report's 2026 edition of Best Colleges.
U.S. News & World Reports also ranks Hope College nationally as
- #22 for Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
- #28 in Most Innovative Schools
- #36 for Undergraduate Teaching Programs
- #82 for Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- #92 in Best Value Schools
- #150 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
WALL STREET JOURNAL
The ranks Hope among 584 colleges nationwide on how well they prepare students for financial success.
Money Magazine's Best Colleges
Hope is recognized on Money's list of — 732 colleges that combine quality and affordability, “where your tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.”
Wallethub
Hope College ranks #3 in the state of Michigan on WalletHub's list of in 2026 for student selectivity, cost & financing and career 0utcomes.
Great Value Colleges
Great Value Colleges named Hope one of the .
Return on investment
鶹Ƶվ is listed in the . A 鶹Ƶվ graduate's ROI is over $340,000 higher than the mean ROI according to the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. ($554,407 compared to $214,085).
“The college is at the forefront of dialogue about affordability and accessibility.” —Money Magazine
Niche Best Colleges
Niche ranks Hope College among the top schools in Michigan and nationwide including
- #1 and #1 in Michigan
- #1
- #3
- #3
- #4 in eight statewide categories, including , , and , in addition to Best College for and for in Michigan
- #11 of 314 and #40 out of 181
Princeton Review

- Hope is one of 150 institutions recommended by Princeton Review as a 2026 “.”
- recommends Hope for having exceptional commitment to sustainability.
“Overall, the school ‘boasts great academic programs that are lead by professors that typically care about your whole personal development.’ The pre-med, science, engineering and music programs are all ‘excellent’ and are both ‘community-focused’ and ‘focused on global learning.’ Hope has one of the ‘greatest undergraduate research programs in the nation and it shows.” —Princeton Review
FISKE Guide to Colleges
Hope is one of only about 320 colleges and universities highlighted as “the best and most interesting institutions in the nation — the ones that students most want to know about.” The 2022 Fiske Guide to Colleges said this about Hope:
- “I feel pushed to work hard and study to perform at my best.”
- “This is a place where people are involved and love to build community.”
- “Hope is a place where students are challenged to become better students… but, more important, better people.”
Forbes
- America’s Top Colleges: Hope
is included in Forbes’ 2026 list of “Top Colleges” and ranks when looking at alumni salary, debt, graduation rate, return on investment, retention rate, and academic success."
American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation
Hope College ranks among the nation’s top research institutions, including being one of only 28 undergraduate-only schools recognized in the Research Colleges and Universities category by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation.
Washington Monthly
Washington Monthly ranks Hope #116 — and #35 in research — of only 194 in 2024 based on contributions to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.
BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS
In 2021, OnlineChristianColleges.com ranked Hope the in North America based on awards and recognition, student enjoyment, notable features, and historical significance/environmental friendliness.
CHANGING LIVES
Hope is included in the book , which recognizes 45 colleges that develop a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college. According to the book, “Hope is first rate across the board, attracting students because of the reputation of its programs. Hope raises higher education’s moral and intellectual level.”
Sustainability
鶹Ƶվ has been honored with ® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation since 2018.
Hope also appears in the .
The (STARS) commends Hope College with "Gold" status for its transparent, self-reporting framework used to measure sustainability performance. Hope is also recognized for being among the top colleges and universities in the nation for research related to sustainability.
Also included in:
- All-American Colleges: Top Schools for Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals and People of Faith
- Putting Students First: How Colleges Develop Students Purposefully
- Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians and Writers
- The Insider's Guide to Colleges
OTHER NOTABLES
- Insight into Academia's 2025 “Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award” for “demonstrating an outstanding commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming campus for all.
- The first private, four-year, undergraduate liberal arts college in the country to achieve national accreditation in all four of the arts.
- The only college or university in Michigan where business students can participate in the George F. Baker Scholars Program, which provides a wide range of real-world experiences beyond the classroom. One of only several dozen Baker Scholars Programs in the country.
- One of only 286 institutions in the U.S. to have a chapter of , the nation’s oldest scholastic honorary society.
- 13th in the nation for CPA exam pass rates among 294 comparable institutions
- 77% of Hope graduates were employed and 24% were in graduate school within six months of graduation.
- 93% of Hope seniors who apply to graduate school are accepted to their first or second choice.
See the Grad Survey with data from our most recent graduating class
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