College of the Holy Cross — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of the Holy Cross charges a net price of $38,782/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $155,128. Graduates earn a median $90,543 ten years after entry, $42,183/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.7 years — a 20-year net return of $688,532, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of the Holy Cross's 3.7-year payback ranks #250 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 81% of them, and #17 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $38,782/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $155,128 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $90,543 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $42,183/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $688,532 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of the Holy Cross's own numbers. Net price $38,782 × 4 years = $155,128 total. Median earnings $90,543 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $42,183 a year of premium. $155,128 ÷ $42,183 = 3.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $688,532. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of the Holy Cross students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 30% of the $90,543 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of the Holy Cross students graduate?
87% finish their degree. Spread the $155,128 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $178,308 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of the Holy Cross expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $38,782 net price runs $13,899 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $55,596 more across the full degree.