Holyoke Community College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,277 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,068 B+
- 53% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,591
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $27.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $846,383.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 31% — 46% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,591
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Holyoke Community College
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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,068 a year after grants and scholarships — 53% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,277 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $8,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 52% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.95 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 3,591 students, Holyoke Community College serves a diverse population looking to pursue degrees in areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Business and Marketing, Culinary and Personal Services, and Visual and Performing Arts. This school is ideal for those who appreciate a community-focused environment and are eager to gain practical skills for the workforce or further education. The hands-on training and supportive faculty create an atmosphere where students can thrive academically and personally.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $37,277 after ten years. While the graduation rate sits at 31%, many who finish their programs tend to move into solid job opportunities. Importantly, 43% of students receive Pell Grants, which can significantly ease the financial burden and help those with limited means pursue their educational goals.
When it comes to the financial side of things, the net price after aid is around $8,068, and the median debt is $8,250. This makes Holyoke Community College an affordable option for many. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who are focused on practical outcomes, willing to engage with community resources, and looking for a pathway that leads to both personal and professional growth.
Rankings
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #23 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #24 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #35 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #36 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #40 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #40 Best Data Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #41 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Holyoke Community College 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 Holyoke Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Holyoke Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Retention Rate
- 62%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,625
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
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 Holyoke Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Holyoke Community College is $10,932, 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 $8,068. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,522 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,988
- Out-of-State
- $10,932
- Avg Net Price
- $8,068
- Median Debt
- $8,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 24%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,522
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,637
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,688
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,014
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Holyoke Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Holyoke Community College report median earnings of $37,277, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,437
- 8 Years
- $35,578
- 10 Years
- $37,277
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (84)
- 11%
- 100% (84)
- 11%
- 100% (84)
- 11%
- 100% (84)
- 11%
How Holyoke 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 Holyoke Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Holyoke Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,068/year ($32,272 total). Graduates earn $37,277 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $878,655 in total earnings — a net gain of $846,383 (27.2× your investment). The median debt is $8,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $32,272
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $878,655
- Net Return
- $846,383
- ROI Multiple
- 27.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,068
- Median Debt
- $8,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 Holyoke Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Holyoke Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.44%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.44%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $71,500
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,552,511
- Federal Grants
- $1,655,810
- Investment Income
- $-1,897,733
Top Programs
The fields Holyoke Community College 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.
- Humanities 17%
- Health Professions 14%
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Psychology 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Holyoke Community College'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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Holyoke Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Holyoke Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Holyoke Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Holyoke Community College is $10,932, 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 $8,068. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,522 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,250 in federal student loans.
Is Holyoke Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Holyoke Community College report median earnings of $37,277, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Holyoke Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Holyoke Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.44%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Holyoke Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Holyoke Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.19), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Holyoke Community College.
- Lake Tahoe Community CollegeSouth Lake Tahoe, CA · Close peer43% grad $36,657 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- College of the RedwoodsEureka, CA · Close peer30% grad $36,243 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA · Close peer34% grad $37,996 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer27% grad $36,531 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Atlantic Cape Community CollegeMays Landing, NJ · Close peer27% grad $34,241 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA · Close peer27% grad $41,118 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Holyoke Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Holyoke Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.19), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note