Physics at Hiram College

Similar physics programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $47,670—a figure that falls short of what Ohio physics graduates typically earn. The state median sits at $53,504, meaning comparable programs in Ohio produce nearly $6,000 more in first-year earnings. Ohio State's physics graduates, for instance, report starting at that higher state benchmark. This gap matters when you're trying to justify any education debt.

The estimated $23,120 in borrowing yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, which represents manageable territory by most standards. A physics graduate at this level could reasonably expect to pay down that debt within a few years if spending stays disciplined. The challenge isn't unmanageable debt—it's whether those peer-program earnings estimates will hold for a small program at a school with a 93% acceptance rate, where the physics cohort may be too small to generate reportable outcomes data.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether Hiram's physics program can match what other Ohio schools deliver. Without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting on national averages in a state where the typical physics graduate does meaningfully better. If your student has options at larger Ohio schools with documented track records, those merit serious consideration. The debt load is reasonable, but only if the earnings materialize.