College of the Holy Cross's published cost of attendance reaches $76,510 per year, including $60,850 in tuition and fees, $17,750 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $36,868 after financial aid, representing savings of $39,642 through institutional aid programs.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $80,334 |
| Tuition and Fees | $64,500 |
| Room and Board | $18,820 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,000 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$41,552 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $38,782 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $14,343 |
| $30–48k | $16,179 |
| $48–75k | $12,682 |
| $75–110k | $27,711 |
| $110k+ | $56,284 |
College of the Holy Cross's published cost of attendance reaches $76,510 per year, including $60,850 in tuition and fees, $17,750 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $36,868 after financial aid, representing savings of $39,642 through institutional aid programs. This net price places Holy Cross $9,725 above the peer median of $27,143, reflecting the premium associated with selective private liberal arts education.
The institution's financial aid programs provide meaningful support, though families should expect higher costs than typical four-year institutions. Net prices vary significantly by family income, ranging from $14,900 for families earning under $30,000 to $51,228 for families earning over $110,000. The substantial aid provided to lower-income families helps maintain some economic diversity despite the institution's higher overall costs.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt is well below typical first-year earnings — generally considered very manageable.
Holy Cross graduates accumulate median debt of $27,000, above the peer median of $24,181, placing the institution at the 4.0th percentile for debt levels—indicating modestly below average performance. Debt ranges from $19,000 at the 25th percentile to $31,919 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing patterns among students.
The median debt level, while higher than peers by $2,819, reflects the realities of private college financing even with substantial financial aid. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 indicates that graduates earn approximately 3.3 times their debt amount annually, representing manageable burden given the strong earnings outcomes of $90,543.
Parent PLUS debt averages $39,599 with monthly payments of $521, indicating families make substantial additional investments beyond student borrowing. The combination of student and family borrowing reflects the total financial commitment required for Holy Cross education, though the strong earnings outcomes support debt sustainability.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Holy Cross represents a high-cost, high-return educational investment with graduates earning $27,477 more than peer institution graduates while accumulating $2,819 more in debt. The institution ranks at the 94.0th percentile for return on investment with top-tier performance, indicating that the higher costs produce proportionally strong career outcomes.
Graduates earn $90,543 annually, placing Holy Cross at the 97.0th percentile nationally among the highest we track for earnings. However, graduates earn $3,793 below expectations relative to similar students, reflecting the high performance standards expected of selective private institutions rather than underperformance.
The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 indicates sustainable borrowing levels given career outcomes. While affordability ranks at the 6.3rd percentile with modestly below average performance, the strong return on investment supports the higher financial commitment for families able to manage the costs.
Holy Cross demonstrates significant financial aid commitment through its $39,642 average savings from sticker price, though the resulting net price remains above peer institutions. With 14.7% of students receiving Pell grants, the institution serves a smaller share of lower-income students compared to public institutions, reflecting both admission selectivity and cost barriers.
The substantial gap between sticker price and net costs indicates meaningful institutional aid programs, though the final net price of $36,868 exceeds the peer median by $9,725. This financial aid profile reflects a private institution committed to providing access while maintaining the resources necessary for intensive liberal arts education.
The aid distribution particularly benefits lower-income families, with families under $30,000 paying $14,900 compared to over $50,000 for the highest-income families.
