Hiram College
Hiram, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 93.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
Hiram College, a small (777 students) private liberal arts college in northeast Ohio, scores 44 (Poor Value tier). The financial setup reflects classic small-private discounting: sticker tuition of $27,600, average net price of $21,058 (about $6,500 off list), and four-year cost of $84,232. Median earnings six years out are $36,300, ramping to $54,311 by year ten - a respectable 50% increase reflecting graduates' career acceleration into Cleveland-area and broader Ohio professional roles. Median federal debt of $27,000 against those earnings produces a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 21) - the score's biggest drag. Payback period of 11.6 years (sub-score 52) is workable. Earnings premium of 0.23 (sub-score 50) is moderate. Completion rate of 54.5% (sub-score 49) is decent for a small private serving a working-class population. Three-year repayment rate of 70.6% (sub-score 41) is mediocre. The honest read: Hiram preserves a real liberal-arts educational experience for a working-class Ohio student body, with strong nursing and biology programs anchoring outcomes. The challenge is the typical graduate's debt load against modest early-career earnings - the 10-year ramp suggests the math eventually works, but families should expect long payback timelines. This is a school to evaluate on educational fit, not pure ROI.
The data raises concerns about Hiram College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Hiram College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,600/yr |
| Average net price | $21,058/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,232 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,311 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 777 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Hiram College is $27,600/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $21,058/year, or roughly $84,232 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,550/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,698/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $54,311 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,550 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,382 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,515 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,236 |
| $110,001+ | $26,698 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $16,550 net annually, totaling about $66,200 over four years. The discount off sticker is moderate. Note: the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $16,382 - very slightly less than the lowest bracket, a mild inversion in the published net-price grid. With Pell aid plus federal loans, low-income students borrow at or near the school median ($27,000).
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $18,515 per year, about $74,060 over four years. The aid drop-off from the lower brackets is moderate. Combined with the workable but slow earnings ramp, middle-income families face a realistic but tight financial commitment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $26,698 per year, totaling $106,792 across four years - close to but below the published 4-year cost. Aid grading at the top is meaningful but caps high-income discounts. For high-income families, the cost gap versus an Ohio public is real and only justifiable on small-college fit grounds.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Hiram College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | $58,941 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $75,185 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,501 | D |
| Biology | $53,290 | B |
| Sociology | $39,277 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing produces 13 graduates with $68,998 starting earnings, $75,185 at 4 years, $29,440 in median debt, and a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. Cleveland-area healthcare demand provides reliable BSN placement. The cohort is small but the directional outcome is positive; this is the school's clearest ROI track.
Accounting
Accounting produces 28 graduates - the school's largest cohort - with $40,613 starting, $58,941 at 4 years, $27,000 in median debt, and a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C grade. The CPA pathway gives accounting graduates structural earnings lift, but starting wages in northeast Ohio are constrained. Graduates targeting Cleveland or Akron metros see meaningful 4-year ramps.
Biology
Biology produces 8 graduates with $53,290 in 4-year median earnings, $23,875 in median debt, and a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. The strong 4-year figure suggests graduates pursuing graduate or professional school (medical, dental, PA) and emerging into clinical roles. Pre-health pipeline is the program's strength.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 13 graduates with $36,105 starting, $55,501 at 4 years, $28,259 in median debt, and a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio for a D grade. The 4-year earnings ramp is decent, but the debt load against starting wages produces difficult immediate-payback math. Students should target Cleveland or Pittsburgh metros for stronger placement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.5% |
| Enrollment | 777 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,756 |
Hiram admits 93.5% of applicants - effectively open admissions. SAT and ACT data are not reported, suggesting test-optional or insufficient submitter data. The 54.5% completion rate is the central institutional story: the open-access admissions plus working-class student body (32% Pell) produces the persistence pattern visible in the data. Selectivity is not the differentiator; Hiram's value is the small-college experience and faculty engagement.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Hiram's peer set includes Allegheny Wesleyan, Art Academy of Cincinnati, West Virginia Wesleyan, Randolph College, and Briar Cliff University - all small private liberal arts colleges. Randolph (also in this batch) is the most direct match and posts a similar profile of generous discounting paired with moderate completion. West Virginia Wesleyan is another close match. Within this peer cohort, Hiram's outcomes are roughly average; the 10-year earnings ramp is competitive.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiram College (this school) | 44 | $21,058 | $54,311 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Randolph College | 45 | $15,921 | $53,409 |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | 44 | $18,083 | $51,593 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Hiram fits the northeast Ohio or Pennsylvania student looking for a very small (777 students) residential liberal arts experience with reasonable proximity to Cleveland. Pell rate of 31.7% indicates a meaningfully working-class student body. The fit case is strongest for academically motivated students prioritizing small-class instruction, particularly in biology (pre-health pipeline), nursing, accounting, or interdisciplinary tracks. Students should be deliberate about debt; the school's $27K median is meaningful relative to post-graduation earnings.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Hiram College. With a net cost of $21,058 per year and median graduate earnings of only $54,311 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 11.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $27,000 against $54,311 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.