Hiram College has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its latest Best Colleges rankings, earning distinctions that reflect the College’s commitment to access, value, and a highly personalized private college experience.
Hiram ranked No. 19 among Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 19 among private colleges in the Midwest. The College was also recognized as a Top Performer on Social Mobility, ranking No. 6, and earned the No. 23 spot for Best Value among regional colleges in the Midwest.
The rankings point to areas that are central to Hiram’s mission: making a private college education attainable and creating an environment where students are known, supported, and given opportunities to succeed. Hiram’s recognition for social mobility measures success in enrolling and graduating students who receive federal Pell Grants, while the Best Value ranking considers academic quality alongside the cost of attendance and financial aid.
“At Hiram, our focus is not simply on providing students access to an education, but on what we help them accomplish once they are here,” said James M. Malz ’87, interim president of Hiram College. “Students come to Hiram because they want an experience where they are known, supported, and challenged to grow. These recognitions affirm the work of our faculty and staff to create that environment and help students turn their education into meaningful opportunities for their futures.”
U.S. News & World Report evaluates colleges and universities using measures designed to assess academic quality and student success, including graduation and retention, outcomes for students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, faculty and financial resources, and other institutional measures.
Hiram’s No. 6 ranking for social mobility recognizes the College’s success in enrolling and graduating students who receive federal Pell Grants, which are generally awarded to undergraduate students with significant financial need. The measure considers both Pell Grant graduation rates and how those rates compare with students who do not receive Pell Grants.
The Best Value ranking examines the relationship between an institution’s academic quality and the cost of attendance for students receiving need-based financial aid. Hiram’s recognition in the category underscores the College’s continued focus on making the benefits of a private education accessible to students and families.
Those benefits are evident throughout the Hiram experience. Students learn in a close-knit environment where relationships with faculty and staff extend beyond the classroom. Experiential learning—including internships, research, community engagement, and other hands-on opportunities—allows students to apply what they learn, explore their interests, and build skills they can carry into careers and graduate study.
The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings add to recent recognition for Hiram. The College was named to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2026 Transfer Honor Roll and has continued to receive recognition from Colleges of Distinction for its approach to undergraduate education.
By Jenelle Sanders
