Worcester Polytechnic Institute vs College of the Holy Cross: which has better ROI?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $172,284 in 3.1 years versus 3.7 years at College of the Holy Cross, on median earnings of $103,470 vs $90,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | College of the Holy Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $43,071 | $38,782 |
| Total net cost | $172,284 | $155,128 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $103,470 | $90,543 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $929,916 | $688,532 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Worcester Polytechnic Institute or College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross, at $38,782 a year after aid versus $43,071 — a gap of $4,289 a year, or $17,156 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Worcester Polytechnic Institute or College of the Holy Cross graduates earn more?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $103,470 ten years after entry, $12,927 more than the $90,543 at College of the Holy Cross. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Worcester Polytechnic Institute or College of the Holy Cross?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, against 87% at College of the Holy Cross. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.