Hope College - Overview
Hope College Offers Elite Academics and Community Atmosphere
Hope College students and faculty are friendly, involved, caring, and multi-talented.
The talents and perspectives of the students enrich the campus community and enable every individual to contribute in a meaningful way. What all Hope students have in common is the desire to grow -- inside the classroom and beyond.
When it comes to producing future Ph.D. holders, Hope ranks in the top 5 percent of liberal arts colleges in the U.S. Hope College ranks in the top 4 percent for science, and in the top 1 percent for chemistry. Hope is the only liberal arts college in the nation to achieve national accreditation in art, dance, music, and theatre. Its "Phi Beta Kappa" status puts Hope among the academically elite schools of America.
Hope College is a private, Christian liberal arts college located in Holland, Michigan. The liberal arts curriculum allows students to explore their academic options and develop a knowledge that can be applied to a variety of jobs while still focusing on a degree and career path.
Faculty members teach all courses, and Hope's professors are genuinely interested in supporting their students to succeed. Above all, Hope professors are teachers. They've chosen to work at Hope because they enjoy working with students. Their friendliness and accessibility enhance the quality of student advisement.
Hope maintains national recognition for commitment to undergraduate research, off-campus study, and internships -- all of which give students practical learning experiences leading to high job and graduate school placement rates.
Unique Programs
Hope offers programs often not found at liberal arts colleges and Christian institutions. In the natural sciences for example, Hope's Bachelor of Science in Engineering program offers areas of emphasis including biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Most engineering majors participate in original, externally funded research, and many participate in Hope's chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
Physics and Computer Science are two other exceptional programs not always found at smaller or Christian colleges. Both programs boast exceptional placement rates into top graduate schools, and the Physics Department operates its own particle accelerator, something not available at any other undergraduate program in America. The fully accredited Nursing program and nationally accredited Chemistry program are not as unique, but their national recognition for research and placement rates make them worthy of mention.
In the area of Fine Arts, Hope has the distinction of being the only undergraduate institution to have all four areas - Art, Dance, Music, and Theater - receive national accreditation. Dance and Creative Writing, in particular, draw students from around the country.
Beyond the Books
These will be among the best, most interesting, and exciting years of students' lives. The college does its best to make Hope a home away from home. Students have the ability to grow not just academically, but also physically, socially, and spiritually.
With over 80 student organizations, strong winning NCAA Division III athletic programs, a fun variety of intramural sports, and nationally acclaimed downtown Holland only a couple blocks away, there is a lot going on! It's no wonder that 80 to 90 percent of students are on campus on any given weekend! Students' opportunities to be involved both inside and outside the classroom is what people enjoy about Hope!
Faculty, staff, and administrators engage students to explore their personal beliefs and encourage faith development, while always allowing the freedom and space for students to make their own decisions. Opportunities abound to get involved in mission trips, small group Bible studies, volunteer work, chapel services, and religious organizations. Students can make faith their own!
Global Perspective
For more than a century, Hope College has prepared alumni to go to the four corners of the world -- alumni who have enriched their professions and humanity far out of proportion to their numbers.
Hope students are eager to broaden their horizons, and many students do so by studying overseas. With more than 200 programs in over 60 countries, students have a unique opportunity to travel the world, expand their worldviews, and experience a variety of cultures. Chances are, if there's a place students want to study, Hope has a program that gets them there. Among the locations Hope students can choose to visit through the school's programs are Japan, Uganda, New Zealand, Mexico, France, England, and Australia -- the possibilities are endless!
Perfect Location
Hope College has one of the most beautiful campuses students will find -- but it's more than just a campus. Holland is a mid-sized city that has won a number of awards -- most recently being ranked the second happiest place to live in America!
Hope's campus is just two blocks from a nationally-acclaimed downtown -- Holland, Michigan, which "Forbes" magazine calls one of the top 5 safest cities in the U.S. It's a great place for students to call "home." Coffee shops, restaurants (the always needed college pizza places), and bookstores are all within walking distance, and beautiful Lake Michigan beaches are just 6 miles away!