College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
College of the Holy Cross at a Glance
The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit, liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1843 by Benedict Joseph Fenwick and Thomas Mulledy under the auspices of the Society of Jesus, Holy Cross was the first Catholic college in New England and is among the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.
1843
183 years old
—
$1,109.2
3,256
365
10:1 student:faculty
61 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to College of the Holy Cross
Official admissions pageNovember 15 (Early Decision I)
Testing policy
Is College of the Holy Cross Worth It?
College of the Holy Cross offers moderate value at $38,782/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $90,543, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 88% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 18% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
How College of the Holy Cross compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #2 of 4 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Trinity University | 63 | $23,464 | $71,668 |
| #2 | College of the Holy Cross | 52 | $38,782 | $90,543 |
| #3 | Skidmore College | 44 | $32,297 | $69,363 |
| #4 | AdventHealth University | 22 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of College of the Holy Cross's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at College of the Holy Cross
The highest-earning program at College of the Holy Cross is Economics at $60,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $36,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from College of the Holy Cross earns $60,900, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $36,800. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $38,782/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $60,900 | $60,900 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $53,800 | $53,800 | $27,000 |
| Chemistry | $45,800 | $45,800 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $44,400 | $44,400 | $27,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $41,300 | $41,300 | $27,000 |
| History | $41,200 | $41,200 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $40,200 | $40,200 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $39,800 | $39,800 | $25,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $26,500 |
| Biology, General | $39,100 | $39,100 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $36,800 | $36,800 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Worcester, MA
- Student Body
- 3,106 students
- Admission Rate
- 18%
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $38,782
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $90,543
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000