Head-to-Head Comparison
College of the Holy Cross vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA
- Holy Cross Wins
- 14
- Tied
- 13
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 17
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, College of the Holy Cross offers a significantly safer investment tier. With an annual cost of $38,782 vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545, College of the Holy Cross delivers strong outcomes at a fraction of the price. Students who choose College of the Holy Cross benefit from a cost structure that keeps debt manageable while maintaining competitive graduate earnings of $90,543 at ten years.
44 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Holy Cross
- Lower cost: Average net price of $38,782, roughly $763 a year less
- Higher grad rate: 88% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- More selective: Admits 18% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 39% more than College of the Holy Cross
- Less debt: Median debt of $25,000, the lower of the two
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Holy Cross graduates concentrate in Social Sciences (33% of degrees); Massachusetts Pharmacy in Health Professions (93%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over College of the Holy Cross. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $90,543.
Pick College of the Holy Cross over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Net price $38,782 vs $39,545.
Pick College of the Holy Cross over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 88% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
College of the Holy Cross and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are close on paper, but College of the Holy Cross wins the head-to-head, leading on 3 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
College of the Holy Cross is the harder admit. It takes 18% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,353 to 1,269.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, College of the Holy Cross sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, College of the Holy Cross comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $38,782, about $763 a year below Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Graduates of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also borrow less: median debt of $25,000, against $27,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $3,052 before any change in aid. Choosing College of the Holy Cross leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $90,543 at College of the Holy Cross. That is a 39% advantage. Set against borrowing, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.2x to 0.3x.
So what: An earnings gap of 39% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
College of the Holy Cross graduates a larger share of its students, 88% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 26% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick College of the Holy Cross to keep costs and debt down; pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. College of the Holy Cross saves about $763 a year, yet Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn $35,014 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Their academic identities diverge. College of the Holy Cross concentrates enrollment in Social Sciences, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leans toward Health Professions. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit
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.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Rankings They Appear On
College of the Holy Cross and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences appear together in 3 rankings. On the Best Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts, College of the Holy Cross ranks #13 — College of the Holy Cross outranks Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences by 36 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Holy Cross's top program is Sociology (33% of enrollment), while Massachusetts Pharmacy leads with Nursing (BSN) (93%).
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Environmental Scientist, Research Scientist, Chemist (for Holy Cross) and Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy).
The two schools feed different job markets. College of the Holy Cross is strongest in Social Sciences, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates in Health Professions. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into College of the Holy Cross or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
College of the Holy Cross is harder to get into, admitting 18% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, College of the Holy Cross or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
College of the Holy Cross is more affordable, with an average net price of $38,782 after aid versus $39,545 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Do College of the Holy Cross or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $90,543 at College of the Holy Cross.
Which has a better graduation rate, College of the Holy Cross or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
College of the Holy Cross has the higher graduation rate, 88% versus 63%.
Should you choose College of the Holy Cross or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose College of the Holy Cross if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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