“A small college with an outsized impact — where curiosity drives discovery and every student is known by name.”
Hiram College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1850 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), located in the small village of Hiram in northeastern Ohio. From its earliest days, the college distinguished itself with a progressive, inclusive approach to education — offering a shared curriculum to both men and women at a time when such equality was rare — and produced one U.S. president, James A. Garfield (Class of 1856). Today, Hiram is a nonsectarian, coeducational institution that remains committed to the belief that a close-knit academic community and rigorous liberal arts education can transform lives. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and an average class size of 10, students receive individualized attention typically found only at much larger and more expensive research universities. Academically, Hiram is organized around four schools: Arts, Humanities & Politics; Business & Communication; Health, Education, Sustainability & Society; and Science & Technology. The college offers 30 majors and 38 minors, along with pre-professional programs and the option to design an individualized major. Its signature academic structure, the Hiram Plan (also known as the 12+3 plan), divides each semester into twelve weeks of multi-course study followed by a three-week intensive period devoted to a single course — often in the form of research projects, service-learning, internships, or study abroad. This calendar fosters deep intellectual immersion and experiential learning. Student life at Hiram is vibrant despite the college's small size. More than 95% of students live on campus, creating a tight residential community. Hiram fields 23 intercollegiate varsity sports at the NCAA Division III level, competing in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Students can participate in more than 25 clubs and organizations, and roughly 47% of students compete in a varsity sport. The Hiram Guarantee, launched in fall 2025, locks in both tuition rates and merit scholarships for all four years. The campus sits in rural Portage County, approximately 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Colleges Midwest
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Best Value Regional Colleges Midwest
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Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceRolling Admission (Fall)
Rolling admissions; no fixed deadline. May 1 is the enrollment commitment deadline.
Transfer Application — Fall
Transfer Application — Spring
International Students — Fall Deposit
Intent to enroll and commitment deposit due May 1
International Students — Spring Deposit
Intent to enroll and commitment deposit due December 1
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$26,265
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Covers the creative arts, philosophy, history, political science, languages, and literature.
Prepares students for careers in business, accounting, marketing, and professional communication.
Focuses on teacher education, health professions, social sciences, kinesiology, and environmental sustainability.
Offers rigorous programs in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science, supported by a 500+ acre biology field station.
4 years
Supported by Hiram's Western Reserve Ecology Research Station, offering hands-on field and lab research opportunities.
4 years
An applied liberal arts business program integrating management theory with practical experience through internships and 3-week intensive Hiram Plan courses.
4 years
A STEM-focused program preparing students for technology careers with an emphasis on real-world applications and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $27,600
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
