Head-to-head comparison
Wittenberg University vs Hiram College: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, OH
Wittenberg University
- Net price / year
- $18,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,947
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
Option B Hiram, OH
Hiram College
- Net price / year
- $21,058
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,311
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Wittenberg University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,596 in 11.3 years versus 14.2 years at Hiram College, on median earnings of $54,947 vs $54,311 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wittenberg University | Hiram College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,649 | $21,058 |
| Total net cost | $74,596 | $84,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,947 | $54,311 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.3 yrs | 14.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $57,144 | $34,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wittenberg University or Hiram College?
Wittenberg University, at $18,649 a year after aid versus $21,058 — a gap of $2,409 a year, or $9,636 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 Wittenberg University or Hiram College graduates earn more?
Wittenberg University graduates report a median $54,947 ten years after entry, $636 more than the $54,311 at Hiram College. 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, Wittenberg University or Hiram College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Hiram College, against 53% at Wittenberg University. 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.