Head-to-head comparison
Capital University vs Hiram College: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
Capital University
- Net price / year
- $22,576
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,143
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Option B Hiram, OH
Hiram College
- Net price / year
- $21,058
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,311
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Hiram College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $84,232 in 14.2 years versus 15.6 years at Capital University, on median earnings of $54,311 vs $54,143 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capital University | Hiram College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,576 | $21,058 |
| Total net cost | $90,304 | $84,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,143 | $54,311 |
| Median debt | $26,889 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 15.6 yrs | 14.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,356 | $34,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capital University or Hiram College?
Hiram College, at $21,058 a year after aid versus $22,576 — a gap of $1,518 a year, or $6,072 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Capital University or Hiram College graduates earn more?
Hiram College graduates report a median $54,311 ten years after entry, $168 more than the $54,143 at Capital University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Capital University or Hiram College?
Capital University: its completers carry a median $26,889 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Hiram College, a difference of $111. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Capital University, against 55% at Hiram College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.