Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Miami University-Hamilton

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Miami University-Hamilton that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Miami University-Hamilton

Hamilton, Ohio · Public

$11,286
Net Price
$55,076
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
23.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Miami University-Hamilton

Miami University-Hamilton posts an average net price of $11,286 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Miami University-Hamilton across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $8,138, achieved by CUNY Lehman College at $3,148. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Miami University-Hamilton’s $55,076, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $61,007.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$8,138
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
62%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. University of Illinois Sprin $57k 2. CUNY York College $57k 3. De Anza College $57k 4. University of North Florida $56k 5. Rhode Island College $56k Compared to Miami University-Hamilton: $55k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL · Public Better Value
$9,833 -$1,453 $57,103 57.0% 62%
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · Public Better Value
$4,456 -$6,830 $56,945 31.3% 51%
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA · Public Better Value
$6,642 -$4,644 $56,596 67.8% 50%
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · Public Better Value
$10,154 -$1,132 $56,343 68.7% 50%
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public Better Value
$9,478 -$1,808 $56,318 47.0% 50%
Weber State University
Ogden, UT · Public Better Value
$10,258 -$1,028 $56,287 44.7% 50%
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Public Better Value
$10,836 -$450 $57,131 51.9% 49%
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA · Public Better Value
$7,653 -$3,633 $57,072 58.2% 49%
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · Public Better Value
$8,752 -$2,534 $56,746 63.4% 49%
New Mexico Military Institute
Roswell, NM · Public Better Value
$4,571 -$6,715 $57,410 41.1% 48%
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public Better Value
$8,615 -$2,671 $57,162 44.6% 48%
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · Public Better Value
$6,174 -$5,112 $90,610 81.5% 47%
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public Better Value
$4,815 -$6,471 $71,588 81.2% 47%
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY · Public Better Value
$10,867 -$419 $69,781 54.9% 47%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$8,138 $58,013 50.3% 47%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Miami University-Hamilton are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Miami University-Hamilton?
We found 15 schools similar to Miami University-Hamilton that cost less. The closest match is University of Illinois Springfield with 62% similarity and a net price of $9,833.
What is the ROI of attending Miami University-Hamilton?
Miami University-Hamilton has an average net price of $11,286. Former students earn a median of $55,076 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Miami University-Hamilton for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. University of Illinois Springfield costs $9,833 (saving $1,453) with median earnings of $57,103.
What is the cheapest alternative to Miami University-Hamilton?
The most affordable similar school is CUNY Lehman College at $3,148, saving $8,138 compared to Miami University-Hamilton. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $61,007 compared to Miami University-Hamilton's $55,076. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.