Students at Holy Cross College benefit from exceptional affordability for private education, with low-income families paying just $13,969 annually.
The college's 0% default rate and strong Pell student outcomes demonstrate its effectiveness at supporting students from modest backgrounds through degree completion.
Holy Cross College is a small private nonprofit institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, that serves students seeking an intimate, values-based education at a relatively affordable price point. While the college doesn't rank among the top tier nationally for earnings outcomes, it offers meaningful access to higher education for students from modest backgrounds, with nearly 29% of students receiving Pell Grants and a similar share being first-generation college students.
The institution's strength lies in its affordability rather than its earnings premium. Low-income students pay just $13,969 annually, well below what most private colleges charge, while middle-income families see net costs around $18,845. Even high-income families pay $33,940, which remains competitive for private education. Graduates earn a median of $50,416 ten years after enrollment, placing the college in the 30th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes.
As a small Catholic college, Holy Cross emphasizes personal attention and community values over the research focus or career networking typical of larger institutions. For students who thrive in close-knit environments and prioritize affordability alongside a faith-centered education, Holy Cross provides a pathway to degree completion that many families can realistically afford.
Holy Cross College offers a focused program portfolio centered around practical, career-oriented fields that prepare students for stable employment. The institution's signature program is Business/Commerce, which enrolls the largest number of students and represents the college's primary academic strength. With 38 graduates annually earning median salaries of $40,461 ten years after graduation, the business program provides solid middle-class outcomes that align with the college's mission of serving first-generation and low-income students.
The college's small scale means limited program diversity compared to larger institutions, but this concentration allows for substantial individual attention and mentorship. Students benefit from close faculty relationships and personalized guidance that can be particularly valuable for first-generation college students navigating higher education. While the earnings outcomes may not match those of technical or research-intensive programs at larger universities, they represent meaningful economic advancement for students from modest backgrounds.
The focused program approach reflects Holy Cross's institutional identity as a small Catholic college that prioritizes personal development and community values alongside career preparation. For students seeking broad exposure to high-earning fields like engineering or computer science, larger research universities would be more appropriate. However, for those who value close-knit learning environments and practical preparation for stable careers, Holy Cross's concentrated offerings provide clear pathways to degree completion and employment.
Holy Cross College graduates earn modest but steady incomes after completing their degrees. Ten years after enrollment, the median graduate earns $50,416, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for earnings outcomes. This reflects both the college's small scale and its focus on fields like business and liberal arts that typically produce moderate rather than exceptional early-career salaries.
The college's signature program is Business/Commerce, which graduates about 38 students annually and leads to median earnings of $40,461 ten years out. While these figures are below what graduates from larger research universities or technical programs typically achieve, they represent solid middle-class outcomes for students who might not otherwise have accessed higher education. The concentrated program offerings mean most students receive substantial individual attention, though this also limits exposure to higher-earning fields like engineering or computer science.
What Holy Cross lacks in earnings premium, it partially compensates for through debt management. With federal loan debt averaging $24,000 and Parent PLUS borrowing at $17,500, total family debt loads remain manageable relative to the institution's private college peers. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, suggesting that while earnings may be modest, graduates generally find stable employment that allows them to meet their repayment obligations.
Holy Cross College stands out for its affordability among private institutions, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Low-income students pay an average net price of just $13,969 per year, significantly below the national average for private colleges and competitive even with many public universities. Middle-income families see annual costs around $18,845, while higher-income families pay $33,940 — still reasonable for private education.
The college's financial aid strategy focuses on making education accessible rather than minimizing debt entirely. Students typically graduate with $24,000 in federal loans, a moderate level that reflects the institution's commitment to keeping borrowing within reasonable bounds. Parent PLUS loans average $17,500, indicating that families contribute meaningfully to costs while avoiding the excessive parent debt seen at many private colleges. The combination of grants, reasonable pricing, and controlled borrowing creates a sustainable financial model for most families.
What makes Holy Cross particularly sustainable is its track record with loan repayment. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, and borrowers show strong repayment patterns, with about 11% paying off their loans entirely within two years and steady progress thereafter. This suggests that while graduates may not earn exceptional salaries, they find stable employment that supports their financial obligations and long-term security.
Holy Cross College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
