University of Holy Cross is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It enrolls 471 students (a very small, intimate 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value65
Affordability54
Selectivity31
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.7%, University of Holy Cross is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.7%
Moderate
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 University of Holy Cross is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
66.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Holy Cross 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 $15,635 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,635
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
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
$16,576
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,802
Books & Supplies
$1,353
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,167
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,541
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
$14,202
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,215
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,314
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,073
Over $110,000
$16,087
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$26,995Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$42,00090%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 $22,113
↓ $4,882
No Pell $14,000
↓ $12,995
Dependent students $18,500
↓ $8,495
Independent students $21,354
↓ $5,641
Female students $19,522
↓ $7,473
Male students $18,250
↓ $8,745
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $13,500, less than completers ($26,995), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Holy Cross graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Holy Cross earn a median of $49,316 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,316
Earning > $25K
78%
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
$39,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,500, about 16% 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.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
8.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Holy Cross is home to 471 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
471
Part-Time
29%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 39.7%187
Black 29.3%138
Hispanic 14.0%66
Other 6.8%32
Asian 3.4%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Holy Cross. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew Orleans, Louisiana
Housing
Partly residential115 beds available
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
University of Holy Cross offers
a varied set of programs:
27 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 University of Holy Cross is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$39M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,170
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
61 instructional faculty across 4 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
20
33%
$79,835
Associate Professors
14
23%
$66,111
Assistant Professors
24
39%
$62,686
Instructors
3
5%
$64,221
Pros & Cons of University of Holy Cross
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Holy Cross tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Holy Cross is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Holy Cross
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Holy Cross.
Is University of Holy Cross hard to get into?
Admissions at University of Holy Cross are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Holy Cross?
University of Holy Cross has an acceptance rate of 73.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of Holy Cross cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Holy Cross is $15,635 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Holy Cross worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,316 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,635 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Holy Cross known for?
University of Holy Cross is best known for its programs in Nursing, Mental Health Services, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Holy Cross graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Holy Cross are $49,316, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Holy Cross accredited?
Yes. University of Holy Cross is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of Holy Cross?
University of Holy Cross enrolls 471 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Holy Cross?
University of Holy Cross graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Holy Cross a public or private college?
University of Holy Cross is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is University of Holy Cross located?
University of Holy Cross is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What programs does University of Holy Cross offer?
University of Holy Cross offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Mental Health Services, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Holy Cross?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Holy Cross is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Louisiana
Other colleges in Louisiana share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
