Three Ways to Apply

All first-year and transfer students apply to Hope using our own Hope College Application, the Common Application, or the Scoir college search and discovery platform.

Hope College Application

Apply to Hope directly using our own application for admission! Any information we already have on file for you will be pre-populated, making it convenient to complete your application.

Hope College Application

The Common Application

If you’d like the option of applying to multiple colleges & universities at once — including Hope, of course! — you can apply using the Common Application.

Common Application

Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir

New this year, apply to Hope using the Scoir college search and discovery platform.

Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir

Application Instructions

First-Year U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

To apply to Hope, please submit the following items:

• Application for admission
• High school transcript (submitted by your guidance counselor)
• Official transcripts from any college(s) attended

International Students

To apply to Hope as an international student, please submit the following items:

• Application for admission
• Secondary school transcript (submitted by your guidance counselor)
• Official transcripts from any post-secondary school attended
• Annual Financial Support Form
• Evidence of proficiency in English

Learn more about the admissions process for international students 

Transfer Students

To apply to Hope, please submit the following items:

• Application for admission
• Official final high school transcript (submitted by your high school)
• College transcript(s) (from all previous colleges)

Learn more about the admissions process for transfer students 

Previously-Enrolled Students

If you previously attended Hope and want to return, please apply for readmission:

• Submit Hope’s Application for Readmission
• Submit official transcript(s) for any college courses completed at other institutions

Previously-Applied Degree Seeking Students

If you previously applied as a degree seeking student to Hope but did not attend, here’s how to apply for readmission:

• Submit this form to reactivate your application
• Submit official transcript(s) for any college courses you completed at other institutions
• Submit your official final high school transcript (submitted by a counselor at your former high school)

Dual Enrolling Students

High school students wanting to take courses at Hope for dual enrollment before graduating from high school need to apply and work with their school for financing. Dual Enrollment is available to students from participating high schools (or homeschool) with a minimum of a 3.0 high school GPA.

Application

• Complete our Dual Enrollment Application, including the name & email address of two recommenders (parent/guardian and high school official or counselor).
• Each recommender will receive an email with a form to complete on your behalf.
• Your HS official will also upload the most recent version of your high school transcript.

Financing and Payment

1. Hope's financial participation is limited to one course per semester.
2. Fees for credit hours taken above the one course this program covers will be based on the rate identified for the total number of registered credits.
3. Parents will be responsible for any outstanding costs incurred by their student enrolled at Hope College.
4. The PSEO Act requires Hope to bill the school district directly. After reimbursement, based on the student's allowance, Hope will bill the student for the remaining charges.

The payment expected from each student will vary depending on the situations, below:

1. High School Policy: Public high schools may participate in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEO). Please check with your guidance counselor to see if you are eligible for this program.
2. Hope Scholarship Offered: Up to 50% tuition waiver (for one class) is awarded to students with a cumulative High School grade point average of 3.5 or greater, regardless of year in school.  
3. Parents’ Employed at Hope: Contact Hope College Human Resources for information on tuition waiver benefits.

We will contact you with information about registering for classes after receiving your completed application. We offer a variety of courses for dual-enrolling students but our degree-seeking students are given first priority when space is limited.

Guest Students

If you’d like to take a course or two at Hope but aren’t interested in working toward a degree at this time, here’s how to apply:

• Complete our Single Term Enrollment Application for non-degree seeking students.

Please submit this application for each semester or term you wish to take a course at Hope College.

Our Application Review Process

We seek students who will bring a wide range of perspectives and gifts to enrich our campus community. Though admission is selective, we’ll give your completed application careful consideration. We’ll review your application for factors that signal future academic and social success. We value the entire application, including:

• Academic performance
• Strength and quality of curriculum
• Personal conduct
• Demonstrated leadership and service

Your admissions representative is available to help throughout the entire process.

First-year students, complete your application by November 1 and we’ll mail our decision on December 5. After November 1, we process applications and mail decisions on a rolling basis.

AACRAO Ethics & Practice

Admissions Timeline

Early Summer	Create your Common Application account and be ready to apply for admission in August.
August 1	The Hope College Application, Common Application, and Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir are live! Pick one and submit your application for Fall 2025.
November 1	Complete your application by this date (with all supporting materials) and we’ll mail our decision in early December.  After November 1 we process applications and mail decisions on a rolling basis. Our decisions are non-binding, so you’ll have until May 1 to decide if Hope is right for you.
December 1	The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid; studentaid.gov) is available for filing. We’ll need this form to review your application for need-based aid.
February 1	Hope’s merit scholarship application deadline. Your application must be complete by this date to guarantee consideration. It is also the last day we can accept updated academic information (GPA, class rank) for merit scholarship consideration.
Early February	Our Office of Financial Aid begins sending aid notices to admitted students who have submitted a FAFSA and completed the aid application process.
March 1	March 1 is the priority date to file the FAFSA.
May 1, 2025	Submit your enrollment deposit to secure your spot for next fall!

Test-Optional Admissions Policy

Hope College has adopted a test-optional admissions policy. We are not requiring an ACT, SAT, or CLT score alongside your application for admission. If you do submit a standardized test score, we will consider it as part of our holistic review process.