University of Holy Cross
New Orleans, Louisiana · Private Nonprofit · 73.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Holy Cross in New Orleans earns an ROI score of 45 out of 100, landing in the Below Average Value tier. The cost-to-tuition near-parity signals limited institutional aid; most students still pay close to sticker. Graduates earn $38,700 six years out and $49,316 at ten years, with $26,995 median debt and a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 14.1-year payback period reflects modest earnings against the debt. The 48.6% completion rate is a serious drag, with more than half of entering students not finishing. The repayment rate of 87.6% is genuinely strong, suggesting graduates who do finish manage their debt. The nursing program is the clear value pathway; without it the school's results would be substantially weaker.
University of Holy Cross
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,576/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,576/yr |
| Average net price | $15,635/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,540 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,316 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,995 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 471 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,576/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,635/year, or roughly $62,540 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,202/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,087/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,995, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,700) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,202 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,215 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,314 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,073 |
| $110,001+ | $16,087 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $14,202 in net price, and the $30,001-$48,000 band pays $15,215. These are close to public-school prices and reasonable on their face. Combined with Pell Grant eligibility and Louisiana state aid (TOPS for in-state students), the cost picture is manageable. Over four years, low-income families face roughly $57,000 in total cost against $49,316 ten-year earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $15,314, only marginally above lower brackets, then the $75,001-$110,000 band jumps to $19,073. Middle-income families pay roughly the same as low-income families until earnings cross $75,000, where the discount drops sharply.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $16,087, which is actually lower than the $75,001-$110,000 bracket, a genuine inversion at the top. This suggests merit aid catching some high-income families who would otherwise pay full sticker. The inversion is unusual enough to flag, though the absolute differences across all brackets are small. Holy Cross effectively functions as a flat-priced school across most income tiers.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at University of Holy Cross with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,877 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $56,488 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is University of Holy Cross's flagship program and the school's strongest financial pathway. 34 graduates earn $70,806 in their first year out, climbing to $83,877 at four years. New Orleans's hospital system absorbs new RNs at strong wages, making this the clear value pathway.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health graduates 10 students earning $54,241 in year one and $56,488 at four years. Median debt is not reported, suppressing the ROI grade. Earnings are solid for a small program, reflecting strong demand for diagnostic and imaging technicians in the New Orleans healthcare market. A defensible secondary pathway behind nursing, though small sample size limits confidence in the numbers.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 89.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Holy Cross’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.7% |
| Enrollment | 471 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,708 |
University of Holy Cross admits 73.7% of applicants, indicating moderate selectivity though the school's small size (471 students) makes admissions effectively self-selecting among Catholic-tradition Louisiana applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Holy Cross (this school) | 45 | $15,635 | $49,316 |
| Pillar College | 47 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | 44 | $35,671 | $54,914 |
| Centenary College of Louisiana | 35 | $23,624 | $50,330 |
| Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion | 31 | $9,136 | $20,707 |
| Dillard University | 15 | $22,094 | $39,196 |
Who Thrives Here
University of Holy Cross is tiny at 471 students with a 27.5% Pell rate. The fit profile is a Louisiana-resident Catholic-tradition student interested in nursing or allied health, willing to attend a very small school in a religious setting. The 48.6% completion rate and 87.6% repayment paint a picture of a school where finishers do well but a large share drop out, often with debt. Strong fit for nursing students with clear goals; weak fit for undecided liberal arts students.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Holy Cross is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,635 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $49,316 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 14.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: its 48.6% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,995 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of Holy Cross: Common Questions
Is University of Holy Cross worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Holy Cross scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,635 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $49,316 ten years after entry, so it takes about 14.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Holy Cross cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,635 a year, or roughly $62,540 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Holy Cross graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,316 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,516 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Holy Cross?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 14.1 years for University of Holy Cross. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Holy Cross graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,995, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of Holy Cross?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.