Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences, humanities, and life sciences — a signature aligned with the institution's liberal arts identity and residential college model. Research Psychology is the largest program with 83 graduates, followed by Political Science, Economics, Biology, General, and Natural Resources Conservation and Research.

Across 35 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in fields where liberal arts preparation translates directly into professional outcomes. The earnings leaders reflect the institution's disciplinary strengths.

Computer Science graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $120,021 with 42 graduates, followed by Sociology at $62,313 and Political Science at $62,045. Biology, General graduates earn $55,869 and English Language and Literature, General graduates earn $48,984, demonstrating that strong financial outcomes extend across multiple fields rather than concentrating in a single discipline.

Among the most popular majors, Political Science graduates earn $62,045, Biology, General earn $55,869, and Natural Resources Conservation and Research earn $43,204, showing that enrollment scale and earnings strength often align. Many of Mount Holyoke College's highest-earning programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory — particularly in Social Sciences, which represents 25% of graduates, and fields within Arts at 9%.

Students in these disciplines frequently continue to graduate or professional school, making early-career earnings a partial signal of long-term financial outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Mount Holyoke College's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends and wage growth across sectors.

Mount Holyoke's published cost of attendance is $84,926, but need-based aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,882; middle-income families pay around $17,394; higher-income families pay approximately $38,561.

Azimuth ranks Mount Holyoke College #1013 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.

Mount Holyoke's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met in full under current financial aid policies. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Most admitted students receive need-based scholarships, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. The gap between published cost and actual net price reflects Mount Holyoke's commitment to making a liberal arts education accessible across income levels, though the absolute net price remains a meaningful commitment for many families.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,902, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $31,129; 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 $54,450, median federal debt of $22,902 projects to a monthly payment of about $259 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 Mount Holyoke College earn median 4-year earnings of $54,450, placing Mount Holyoke College in the 14.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mount Holyoke College #1025 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings profile reflects Mount Holyoke College's concentration in Social Sciences, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and drives consistent outcomes across the student body. The program mix anchors on social sciences and humanities fields.

Research Psychology is the largest program with 83 graduates, followed by Political Science with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,045 — 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Economics with 50 graduates and Biology, General with 47 graduates earning $55,869 round out the core cohort.

Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 46 graduates earning $43,204 — 0.8× the national benchmark — completes the top five. This program distribution supports steady career outcomes and positions Mount Holyoke College as a reliable choice for students pursuing liberal arts pathways with clear economic payoff.