The numbers are in! At Hope College, our numbers demonstrate our commitment to student-faculty collaborative research and scholarly projects.

Here, inquisitive students work alongside faculty and staff mentors to pursue original research that adds new knowledge and understanding to all academic fields. Through these hands-on projects, students learn more about the world — and about themselves.

  • Each spring, hundreds of students present the results of their research projects at Hope’s annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. In 2015, 360 students presented 229 projects at the Celebration.
  • Faculty are consistently awarded funding for their research and scholarship from external agencies and foundations. From July 2014–July 2015, faculty were awarded over  $2.5 million to pursue more than 40 projects on topics ranging from nanoscience to Latin-American feminism.

These collaborations contribute to deeper knowledge in every discipline. And they make Hope a national leader in undergraduate research at liberal arts colleges. Check out the research opportunities currently available to students

Hope’s on-campus research events and programs showcase and support students, faculty and staff:

Van Wylen Library
Between the college’s extensive in-house collection of materials and the easy to access online catalogs and databases, the Van Wylen Library is the perfect starting spot for any research. Use the library’s research tools.
Faculty Research 
Hope College offers pre- and post-award assistance to faculty and staff to support academic scholarship, faculty development, research and curriculum. Visit the Office of Sponsored Research Programs.
HHMI Program
The Hope HHMI Program aims to increase the number of students who move from novice researcher to research leader and to train STEM research leaders who are ready to carry out scientific investigations that address the problems of society. It is made possible through the generous support of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity
With over 300 students participating each year, the Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity is an annual opportunity to showcase collaborative student-faculty research projects.
Global Water Research Institute
The Global Water Research Institute enables water-centered research that can transform the health and well-being of local, regional and global communities. Our interdisciplinary, collaborative student and faculty research provides improved understanding of water and equips communities to make data-driven decisions about their water use. 
Day1 Research Communities
Gain new skills, work alongside engaged professors and peers, and tackle real-world problems through research that begins on day one of your freshman year! Learn more about Day1 Research Communities.
Frost Center for Data and Research
The Frost Research Center and its Office of Institutional Research provide Hope College and other clients with diverse resources and analysis capabilities while engaging in all aspects of the research process.
Center for Leadership
Through classes, consulting and incubators, the Center for Leadership provides support and resources to all Hope students looking to co-create and validate social and economic business ventures.
Klooster Center for Excellence in Writing
Collaborating with Van Wylen Library research librarians, the Klooster Center for Excellence in Writing provides assistance and instruction to students across the entire research and writing process.
Joint Archives of Holland
The Joint Archives of Holland actively collect, interpret, care for and make available archival collects from Hope College, Western Theological Seminary and local government.
Van Raalte Institute
Located in the Theil Research Center, the A.C. Van Raalte Institute offers a collection of research focusing on the Dutch and Dutch Americans.

Researching. Educating. Leading.

Hope College has the numbers to prove it.

Stories of scholarship and innovation

  1. Visiting the Hope-Western Prison Education Program

    Posted by Josh Bishop

    Walking across a prison yard for the first time isn’t exactly the most comfortable experience. ...

    Read More
  2. People of Hope: Annika Weeber

    Posted by Kelsey Sivertson

    Hope College isn’t just a place; it’s a community.  A regular feature within “Stories of H...

    Read More
  3. Hoping for 30 years: Why we cheer for the Lions

    Posted by Josh Bishop

    When the Detroit Lions beat Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24–23 in the NFC Wild Car...

    Read More
  4. People of Hope: Jill VanderStoep

    Posted by Kelsey Sivertson

    Hope College isn’t just a place; it’s a community. A regular feature within “Stories of Hop...

    Read More
  5. People of Hope: Owen Harries

    Posted by Kelsey Sivertson

    Hope College isn’t just a place; it’s a community. A regular feature within “Stories of Hop...

    Read More
  6. A Message from the Shoah by a Daughter of Auschwitz

    Posted by Greg Olgers ’87

    By Greg Olgers ’87 The Hope Academy of Senior Professionals gave a gift to the entire community...

    Read More
Load More Posts

Hope by the Numbers

  • No. 22Research and Creative Activity

    In the 2023 US News rankings, Hope is #22 for providing outstanding undergraduate research/creative project opportunities. This is up from #24 in 2021 and #37 in 2020.

  • $32.7MExternal Grants to Support Research

    Hope College has received $32.7 million in external grants to support research over the past 10 years.

  • 350+Student Presenters Each Year

    More than 350 students present collaborative research each year.

  • 15+Celebration of Undergraduate Research

    Hope has held the Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance for more than 15 years.