Students at College of the Holy Cross achieve some of the strongest long-term financial outcomes in American higher education, with graduates earning far more than typical college graduates nationwide.
The combination of exceptional earnings and strong upward mobility reflects the college's ability to translate liberal arts education into concrete career advantages and professional success.
College of the Holy Cross delivers some of the strongest long-term financial outcomes among all colleges nationwide, with graduates earning a median of $90,543 ten years after enrollment. This places Holy Cross in the 96th percentile nationally for earnings, reflecting the institution's ability to connect students with high-paying careers and extensive alumni networks. The college combines the intimate academic environment of a liberal arts institution with the career placement power typically associated with elite universities.
As a highly selective private college in Worcester, Massachusetts, Holy Cross serves a relatively affluent student body—only about 15% receive Pell Grants—but delivers exceptional results for those who attend. The college's 90% six-year graduation rate and strong loan repayment performance demonstrate consistent academic and financial success across its student population.
What distinguishes Holy Cross is its ability to translate a traditional liberal arts education into concrete career advantages. Whether students pursue economics, political science, mathematics, or psychology, they benefit from the college's reputation, alumni connections, and career services that consistently open doors to competitive opportunities in finance, consulting, law, and other high-earning fields.
College of the Holy Cross demonstrates how a traditional liberal arts education can translate into strong career outcomes across diverse fields. Applied Economics leads both in scale and financial returns, with 112 graduates earning a median of $66,519 and generating the highest aggregate economic impact among the college's programs. This reflects Holy Cross's particular strength in preparing students for careers in finance, consulting, and business, where the analytical skills developed through economics coursework prove especially valuable.
Political Science represents the college's largest single major with 111 graduates, producing median earnings of $46,357 that reflect the field's typical career paths into government, law, nonprofit work, and corporate roles. Mathematics majors achieve stronger early-career earnings at $52,733, benefiting from quantitative skills that are increasingly valued across industries. Even Psychology, traditionally a lower-earning field, generates competitive outcomes at $37,856 for Holy Cross graduates, supported by the college's strong graduate school placement and professional networks.
What distinguishes Holy Cross is its ability to leverage liberal arts training into access to elite career opportunities. The college's alumni network, particularly strong in the Northeast business corridor, provides ongoing advantages that help explain why graduates across all majors achieve such strong long-term financial outcomes. Whether students pursue immediate entry into competitive fields or continue to graduate school, Holy Cross's reputation and connections consistently open doors to high-mobility career paths.
College of the Holy Cross graduates achieve exceptional long-term earnings that place the institution among the top 5% of all colleges nationwide. With a median income of $90,543 ten years after enrollment, Holy Cross graduates significantly outpace typical college outcomes. The college's loan repayment performance is equally impressive—over 95% of borrowers successfully repay their loans, and many pay off balances faster than national averages, reflecting the strong earning power that follows graduation.
Program-level outcomes vary but remain consistently strong across Holy Cross's liberal arts curriculum. Applied Economics stands out as both the highest-return major and largest program by aggregate impact, with 112 graduates earning a median of $66,519 early in their careers. Political Science, the college's largest single major with 111 graduates, produces median earnings of $46,357, while Mathematics majors achieve $52,733. Even Psychology, typically a lower-earning field, generates $37,856 for Holy Cross graduates—competitive for the discipline and supported by the college's strong graduate school placement and professional networks.
The college's strength lies in its ability to leverage liberal arts training into high-mobility careers. Holy Cross graduates frequently enter competitive fields like investment banking, consulting, law, and corporate management, where starting salaries may be moderate but long-term earning potential is substantial. The institution's alumni network, particularly strong in the Northeast corridor, provides ongoing career advantages that compound over time and help explain why Holy Cross graduates achieve such strong 10-year earnings despite the college's broad liberal arts focus.
College of the Holy Cross represents a significant financial investment, with affordability challenges that reflect its position as a selective private institution. Low-income students pay about $14,900 annually after aid, which is reasonable for a private college but still substantial for families with limited resources. Middle-income families face net prices around $20,722, while high-income families pay approximately $51,228—costs that place Holy Cross among the more expensive college options nationally.
Debt levels reflect this pricing structure, with typical graduates carrying $27,000 in federal student loans and families often supplementing with Parent PLUS loans averaging nearly $40,000. The total debt burden can be substantial, particularly for families who rely heavily on borrowing to cover Holy Cross's comprehensive costs. However, the college's financial aid office works to make attendance possible for admitted students, and the institution's strong earnings outcomes help justify the investment for many families.
What makes Holy Cross's costs more manageable is the exceptional earning power of its graduates. With median 10-year earnings exceeding $90,000, most borrowers can comfortably handle standard loan repayment schedules. The college's 0% federal loan default rate and strong repayment performance indicate that graduates consistently earn enough to service their educational debt, even when borrowing levels are higher than at typical institutions.
College Of The Holy Cross Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
