I was just talking to my son (HS sophomore) about Hillsdale yesterday. May I ask what kind of resources one must cough up in order to send a kid there?
Let me begin by saying that Hillsdale is worth every single penny.
Two already graduated and the next two have already decided they want to go there too.
As you probably know they don't accept any federal funding which includes any federally-backed student loans.. They are big on providing scholarships and needs-based help. If that's not enough they do recommend 2 or 3 specific private lenders (State of Michigan used to be one of them but as you can guess that went the way of the housing market). And they also have available private loans financed through the college itself. (We took advantage of this when we needed a little extra help--frankly, I think they don't offer this unless absolutely necessary).They also have on-campus employment (up to 10 hours a week) which they credit against the tuition bill.
Our family is caught in the middle--my husband makes too much to qualify us for needs based money but we make no where enough to pay for even a semester ourselves. (At one point we had 2 there at the same time--fortunately they both got some scholarships)So we did take advantage of their recommended lenders. (We could have done a home equity I suppose).
I did meet a woman once who worked for two years after high school to save the money to go to Hillsdale. In her junior year she ran out of money so she told them she'd have to quit. Magically (this is Hillsdale) someone donated the money to pay the rest of her tuition until graduation. She was never told the donor who wanted no recognition. Okay, so that won't happen for everyone but all I can say if your son is interested in going -- Don't let the money stop you. Get in and then talk to them about how to make it work.
yes, this decision has cost us money but we don't regret it. My oldest (now 24) often says that is was the best decision she's ever made and that she would be so stupid if she'd gone somewhere else. As far as she's concerned except for a few Christian-based schools and Hillsdale all the other colleges are the same. Same kind of profs, same books, same indoctrinations.
Visit the campus and talk to the professors and administration. They are unlike others at other schools.
My daughters had a professor who left another school where he had worked for 20 years and had tenure so he could teach at Hillsdale.
They have a junior day to visit but you can visit any time and your son could even stay in a dorm room if he requests in advance. Or you can visit when they have their CCA events or other speakers. You can stay on campus at their Dow Conference Center (which I love to do--and check out the Heritage Room in the library--cool historic books on display).
Let me know if you want to know more --I could go on and on! LOL!
(PS--I have a HS sophmore also)
(PPS--my other daughter just walked in and said tell them it's the best school in the country!)