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Holy Cross College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Notre Dame, IN · 639 students

The verdict

Holy Cross College charges a net price of $26,728/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $106,912. Graduates earn a median $50,416 ten years after entry, $2,056/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 52 years — a 20-year net return of -$65,792, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Holy Cross College's 52-year payback ranks #1,194 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 7% of them, and #28 of 56 in Indiana.

Better ROI than 7% of US colleges#1,194 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,728
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$50,416
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
52 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
75%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Holy Cross College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,728/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$106,912our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$50,416Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$2,056/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$24,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback52 yrsour math
20-year net return-$65,792our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Holy Cross College's own numbers. Net price $26,728 × 4 years = $106,912 total. Median earnings $50,416 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,056 a year of premium. $106,912 ÷ $2,056 = 52 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$65,792. 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 Holy Cross College students graduate with?

A median $24,000 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $50,416 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Holy Cross College students graduate?

73% finish their degree. Spread the $106,912 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $146,455 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Holy Cross College expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?

Its $26,728 net price runs $7,031 above the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, or $28,122 more across the full degree.

Holy Cross College: frequently asked questions

Is Holy Cross College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Holy Cross College charges $26,728/yr after aid ($106,912 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $50,416 ten years out — $2,056/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 52 years and returns -$65,792 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a Holy Cross College degree take to pay off?
About 52 years. We divide the $106,912 four-year net cost by the $2,056/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Holy Cross College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,728/yr — about $106,912 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Holy Cross College compare to other Indiana colleges?
It ranks #28 of 56 Indiana colleges we track by payback. Its $50,416 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,728 net price is above the national median of $16,902.