Head-to-head comparison
Taylor University vs Holy Cross College: which has better ROI?
Option A Upland, IN
Taylor University
- Net price / year
- $24,865
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,198
- Payback
- 25.9 yrs
Option B Notre Dame, IN
Holy Cross College
- Net price / year
- $26,728
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,416
- Payback
- 52 yrs
Taylor University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $99,460 in 25.9 years versus 52 years at Holy Cross College, on median earnings of $52,198 vs $50,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Taylor University | Holy Cross College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,865 | $26,728 |
| Total net cost | $99,460 | $106,912 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,198 | $50,416 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $24,000 |
| Payback | 25.9 yrs | 52 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$22,700 | -$65,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Taylor University or Holy Cross College?
Taylor University, at $24,865 a year after aid versus $26,728 — a gap of $1,863 a year, or $7,452 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 Taylor University or Holy Cross College graduates earn more?
Taylor University graduates report a median $52,198 ten years after entry, $1,782 more than the $50,416 at Holy Cross 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, Taylor University or Holy Cross College?
Taylor University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $24,000 at Holy Cross College, a difference of $3,500. 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?
74% of students finish at Taylor University, against 73% at Holy Cross College. 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.