Hope College

Hope's motto is taken from Psalm 42:6: "Spera in Deo" ("Hope in God"). The college's emblem is an anchor . This is drawn from a speech by Albertus van Raalte , the leader of the community, on the occasion of the founding of the Pioneer School in 1851: "This is my anchor of hope for this people in the future," (an allusion to Hebrews 6:19). The primary-level Pioneer School was later expanded to secondary and college-level education as Hope College. Van Vleck Hall, which originally housed the Pioneer School, is the oldest building on campus (1858) and serves as a dormitory. It is the city's second-oldest building. The first college class matriculated in 1862, and Hope received its state charter in 1866. The college admitted its first female students in 1878. 2015 marked Hope College's 150th year of education. The celebration began with the 150th commencement on May 3, 2015. The year held two grand openings, the Kruizenga Art Museum and the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts, and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center. The college also sponsored the Presidential Colloquium lecture series, which featured an address by David Brooks on Christian education in the 21st century. [ 4 ] A marker designating the college as a Michigan Historic Site was erected in 2019 by the Michigan Historical Commission . [ 5 ] The inscription reads: In 1851, four years after settlers from the Netherlands founded Holland, the Pioneer School was established to meet some of the educational needs of the young colony. This school, the predecessor of Hope College, received direction and financial support from the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. The school evolved into the Holland Academy, which in 1862 enrolled its first college class. On May 14, 1866, the institution was chartered as Hope College, and on July 17, 1866, the first class of eight students was graduated.

The college’s name, seal, and motto are derived from a statement of the founder of Holland, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, who said of the Pioneer School, “This is my Anchor of Hope for this people in the future.” In the decades that followed, a strong college of arts and sciences was developed which continues to serve the church and the community. Presidents The following people have presided over the college: [ 6 ] Philip Phelps Jr. (1866–1878) Charles Scott (1878–1893) Gerrit J. Kollen (1893–1911, Hope College Class of 1868) Ame Vennema (1911–1918, Hope College Class of 1879) Edward D. Dimnent (1918–1931, Hope College Class of 1896) Wynand Wichers (1931–1945) Irwin J. Lubbers (1945–1963, Hope College Class of 1917) Calvin A. VanderWerf (1963–1970, Hope College Class of 1937) Gordon VanWylen (1972–1987) John H. Jacobson (1987–1999) James E. Bultman (1999–2013, Hope College Class of 1963) John C. Knapp (2013–2017) Dennis N. Voskuil (2017–2019, interim) Matthew A. Scogin (2019–present, Hope College Class of 2002) [ 7 ]

Hope Forward is a program that allows students to receive gifted tuition. Instead of paying upfront, students are invited to support future students through donations after they graduate. [ 8 ] Hope Forward has gained national attention, including an episode of in June 2023 of Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History podcast, titled "A Good Circle", which highlights the potential for this innovative model to transform higher education. [ 9 ]

Quick facts Admissions statistics, Admit rate ... Admissions statistics 2023 entering class [ 10 ] Admit rate 80% Test scores middle 50% [i] SAT Total 1120-1330 ACT Composite 24-31 Among students who chose to submit Close Quick facts Academic rankings, Liberal arts ... Academic rankings Liberal arts U.S. News & World Report [ 11 ] 84 Master's Washington Monthly [ 12 ] 116 Close The college offers 90+ majors, all of which lead to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. It has a student population of about 3,200, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. [ citation needed ] The college offers off-campus study programs in several cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, and overseas programs for the summer, semester, or an academic year. Among its international programs, a longstanding summer semester in Vienna is popular among students. [ citation needed ] Hope College is a member of the Great Lakes College Association . In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report ranking of schools by undergraduate research and creative projects, Hope College is ranked #22. [ 13 ] Hope also ranked #84 in the National Liberal Arts category. [ 14 ] Courses offered at Hope are divided into five disciplines: General Education: In General Education courses [ 15 ] students encounter a diverse array of topics rooted in the liberal arts education. Regardless of their majors, students take courses in art, history, language, literature, math and sciences. They also participate in a First-Year Seminar course and a Senior Seminar course. These courses were developed to help transition students in and out of their college career. Arts and Humanities: The Fine and Performing Arts [ 16 ] degree at Hope College consists of four departments, which include Art and Art History, Dance, Music and Theatre.