Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1357 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $21,187 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Holy Cross College in the 4.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1390 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Holy Cross College is a private baccalaureate college in Notre Dame, IN, enrolling approximately 639 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1357 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution maintains a 70.4% freshman retention rate and a 72.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting strong student persistence and degree completion. Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1390 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,024. Holy Cross College sits in the 4.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, meaning graduates earn about $21,187 less than similar students at comparable institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable, well-paying careers. Access and affordability complete the composite picture. Holy Cross College enrolls 29.8% Pell-eligible students and 28.8% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 15.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution sits in the 29.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes — how well low-income and first-generation students convert their degrees into upward economic progress — place Holy Cross College in the 69.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing Holy Cross College against peer institutions, the composite reflects a balanced profile anchored in strong return on investment and solid outcomes for the students the college serves.
Holy Cross College's published cost of attendance is $50,881. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,377, middle-income families pay around $17,036, and higher-income families pay approximately $35,603. Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1011 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Holy Cross College meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility. The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, and the financial aid office works with families to construct packages that balance grants, federal loans, and other resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,053; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,024, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Holy Cross College is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private college experience in Notre Dame, IN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,024, placing Holy Cross College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $21,187 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 4.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. Holy Cross College enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.8% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place it in the 57.3% percentile for Pell completion rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 75.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business and related fields over STEM or health sciences. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Holy Cross College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Holy Cross College's published cost of attendance is $50,881. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,377, middle-income families pay around $17,036, and higher-income families pay approximately $35,603.
Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1011 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Holy Cross College meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility.
The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, and the financial aid office works with families to construct packages that balance grants, federal loans, and other resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,053; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,024, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Holy Cross College earn median 4-year earnings of $46,024, placing Holy Cross College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $21,187 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Holy Cross College in the 4.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Holy Cross College #1390 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Holy Cross College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 15 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $52,927, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General follows with 10 graduates earning $51,745, and General Studies and Biology, General round out the largest cohorts.
These programs anchor Holy Cross College's economic profile and drive the institution's strong four-year earnings outcomes relative to peer institutions.
Business/Commerce, General
15 graduates
Psychology, General
10 graduates
Holy Cross College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity with a vocational orientation. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 15 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 10 graduates, General Studies with 8 graduates, Biology, General with 7 graduates, and Theological and Ministerial Studies with 6 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 46 students annually, the institution delivers consistent outcomes in applied-professional fields. The earnings pattern reflects Business as the economic anchor.
Business/Commerce, General leads with median earnings four years after enrollment of $52,927 among 15 graduates, while Psychology, General delivers median earnings four years after enrollment of $51,745 among 10 graduates. These outcomes position Holy Cross College's strongest programs in the applied-business and professional-services space, where direct-to-workforce pathways dominate and four-year earnings reflect stable labor-market entry.
The program portfolio emphasizes fields where graduates enter the national labor market directly rather than pursuing graduate study. This orientation toward immediate workforce outcomes, combined with the institution's location in the Notre Dame region and its Catholic liberal arts identity, creates a distinctive profile within the private nonprofit sector.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Holy Cross College's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferrum College Similar quality tier (#36162 ranked) | VA | 89% | $44,296 | #36162 | Compare |
Hannibal-Lagrange University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36158 ranked) | MO | 73% | $42,643 | #36158 | Compare |
Delaware Valley University Similar quality tier (#36157 ranked) | PA | 93% | $55,838 | #36157 | Compare |
Arizona Christian University Similar quality tier (#36154 ranked) | AZ | 71% | $51,612 | #36154 | Compare |
Saint Norbert College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36163 ranked) | WI | 86% | $58,363 | #36163 | Compare |
