Holy Cross College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Notre Dame, Indiana. It enrolls 639 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes61
Value16
Affordability33
Selectivity72
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.2%, Holy Cross College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Holy Cross College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
19.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Holy Cross College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,728 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,728
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$36,600
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,700
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,570
Books & Supplies
$700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,350
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,881
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,377
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,673
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,036
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,701
Over $110,000
$35,603
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,000Medianpercentile
$25,50075%percentile
$29,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,850
↓ $6,150
No Pell $5,500
↓ $18,500
Female students $11,625
↓ $12,375
Male students $11,904
↓ $12,096
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($24,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Holy Cross College graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Holy Cross College earn a median of $50,416 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,416
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,000, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Holy Cross College is home to 639 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
639
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.4%322
Hispanic 27.1%173
Black 7.0%45
Other 6.7%43
International 4.9%31
Asian 1.7%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Holy Cross College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbNotre Dame, Indiana
Housing
Mostly residential385 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Holy Cross College offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
8 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Holy Cross College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$26M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,544
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
26 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
3
12%
$82,601
Associate Professors
4
15%
$60,468
Assistant Professors
11
42%
$61,183
Instructors
3
12%
$51,679
Lecturers
5
19%
$49,504
Pros & Cons of Holy Cross College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Holy Cross College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Holy Cross College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holy Cross College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Holy Cross College.
Is Holy Cross College hard to get into?
Holy Cross College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Holy Cross College?
Holy Cross College has an acceptance rate of 75.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Holy Cross College cost?
The average net price after aid at Holy Cross College is $26,728 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Holy Cross College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,416 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,728 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Holy Cross College known for?
Holy Cross College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Holy Cross College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Holy Cross College are $50,416, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Holy Cross College accredited?
Yes. Holy Cross College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Holy Cross College?
Holy Cross College enrolls 639 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Holy Cross College?
Holy Cross College graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Holy Cross College a public or private college?
Holy Cross College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Holy Cross College located?
Holy Cross College is located in Notre Dame, Indiana.
What programs does Holy Cross College offer?
Holy Cross College offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Holy Cross College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Holy Cross College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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