College of the Holy Cross
#9 Highest-Paying Colleges for English- Graduation Rate
- 88% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $90,543 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $38,782 F
- 126% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 18% A
- Admits roughly 18% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Highest-Paying Colleges for English.
Every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,389,217.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 122% more than the national college median.
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A 88% graduation rate — 55% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of the Holy Cross Matters
College of the Holy Cross is a private liberal arts college in Worcester, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 3,106
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, English & Literature
Why students choose College of the Holy Cross
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 18% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1240–1410. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $38,782 a year after grants and scholarships — 126% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $90,543 ten years after enrolling — 122% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 76% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 18%, the College of the Holy Cross attracts students who are not only academically driven but also eager for a transformative educational experience. Here, students dive into programs like Social Sciences, Psychology, and Biology, among others. This school is particularly appealing for those who appreciate a liberal arts education that emphasizes critical thinking and personal growth.
Looking at life after graduation, Holy Cross graduates see impressive earnings, averaging around $90,543 within a decade of finishing their degrees. This financial trajectory speaks volumes about the school’s ability to prepare students for successful careers. It’s worth noting that the high graduation rate of 88% indicates that most students stay on track to complete their degrees, which can significantly affect future earning potential.
When it comes to the cost of attending, the net price stands at $38,782 after financial aid, while the median debt for graduates is $27,000. This can be manageable for many, especially considering the strong earning potential post-graduation. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are motivated, engaged, and ready to take full advantage of the resources and community at Holy Cross.
Rankings
- #9 Highest-Paying Colleges for English
- #10 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #13 Best Colleges in Massachusetts
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts
- #13 Best Master's Programs in Massachusetts
- #13 Best Biology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #21 Best Colleges in New England
- #21 Highest-Paying Colleges for Mathematics
Can I Get In?
How selective College of the Holy Cross is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Holy Cross? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of the Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, sets a competitive bar: about 18% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1353
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1240–1410
- ACT Range
- 27–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 89%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,363
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 17%
- Applicants
- 7,036
- Admitted
- 2,558
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Holy Cross? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Holy Cross is $64,500, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,782. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,343 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $64,500
- Out-of-State
- $64,500
- Avg Net Price
- $38,782
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,343
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,179
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,682
- Family Income $110K+
- $56,284
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of the Holy Cross Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Holy Cross earn a median of $90,543, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $69,984
- 8 Years
- $84,240
- 10 Years
- $90,543
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 85%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (700)
- 90%
- 100% (700)
- 90%
- 100% (700)
- 90%
- 100% (700)
- 90%
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is College of the Holy Cross Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of the Holy Cross delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $38,782/year ($155,128 total). Graduates earn $90,543 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,544,345 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,389,217 (16.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 88% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $155,128
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,544,345
- Net Return
- $2,389,217
- ROI Multiple
- 16.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $38,782
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does College of the Holy Cross Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Holy Cross is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $157,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.00%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 48.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $157,000
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-28,843,955
Top Programs
The fields College of the Holy Cross awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Social Sciences 35%
- Psychology 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 11%
- English & Literature 7%
- Physical Sciences 7%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
- Business & Marketing 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of the Holy Cross's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Holy Cross? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of the Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, sets a competitive bar: about 18% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Holy Cross? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Holy Cross is $64,500, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,782. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,343 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is College of the Holy Cross Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Holy Cross earn a median of $90,543, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does College of the Holy Cross Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Holy Cross is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $157,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of the Holy Cross? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of the Holy Cross. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of the Holy Cross.
- Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY · Close peer91% grad $85,139 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Trinity CollegeHartford, CT · Close peer83% grad $90,779 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · Close peer86% grad $93,807 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · Close peer88% grad $91,410 earn 31% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Close peer90% grad $71,366 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT · Close peer92% grad $73,897 earn 16% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of the Holy Cross? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of the Holy Cross. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note