Head-to-head comparison
College of the Holy Cross vs Amherst College: which has better ROI?
Option A Worcester, MA
College of the Holy Cross
- Net price / year
- $38,782
- Earnings, 10 years
- $90,543
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Option B Amherst, MA
Amherst College
- Net price / year
- $23,367
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,644
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Amherst College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,468 in 3.2 years versus 3.7 years at College of the Holy Cross, on median earnings of $77,644 vs $90,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Holy Cross | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,782 | $23,367 |
| Total net cost | $155,128 | $93,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $90,543 | $77,644 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $13,740 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $688,532 | $492,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of the Holy Cross or Amherst College?
Amherst College, at $23,367 a year after aid versus $38,782 — a gap of $15,415 a year, or $61,660 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do College of the Holy Cross or Amherst College graduates earn more?
College of the Holy Cross graduates report a median $90,543 ten years after entry, $12,899 more than the $77,644 at Amherst College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, College of the Holy Cross or Amherst College?
Amherst College: its completers carry a median $13,740 in federal loans versus $27,000 at College of the Holy Cross, a difference of $13,260. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Amherst College, 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.