SC vs. Hiram

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Hiram College in Hiram, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hiram College is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (1,061 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Hiram College is in Hiram, OH (Distant Rural setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hiram College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Hiram College 11:1.

SC vs. Hiram Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Hiram? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hiram College than SC ($21,868 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 19.1% lower than at Hiram College ($9,586 vs. $11,850).
• Sterling College is 22.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hiram (about $6,100 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $27,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at SC than at Hiram College (about $6,100 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $27,600.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Hiram College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 26.4% larger than aid received by Hiram College students ($23,673 vs. $18,726).

SC vs. Hiram Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or Hiram? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hiram and SC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 30 points higher than at Hiram (1000).
• Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Hiram).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Hiram College 890/1100.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Hiram College 16/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; Hiram - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Hiram (3.28).
• Hiram has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 12.9% at Hiram.

SC vs. Hiram Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and Hiram? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Hiram College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
• Graduates from Hiram College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,000 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $2,337 lower median loan debt than Hiram graduates ($24,663 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hiram graduates ($255 vs. $279).
• More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hiram students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.