Mathematics at College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross mathematics graduates earn $61,761 in their first year—matching the Massachusetts median but trailing the state's elite programs significantly. While this places them in the 86th percentile nationally (well above the $48,772 national median), within Massachusetts they're middle-of-the-pack. MIT and Tufts grads nearly double these starting salaries, and even Amherst and Northeastern offer 20%+ premiums. For a selective college with a 21% acceptance rate and strong SAT scores, Holy Cross produces solid but not exceptional math outcomes.

The financial picture improves considerably with time. Earnings jump 41% to $87,210 by year four, and the $27,000 in typical debt—just above the state median of $19,750—translates to a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's roughly half a year's starting salary, which most graduates can handle comfortably. This debt level ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of math programs leave students with more debt.

If your child is weighing Holy Cross against Northeastern or similar schools, understand you're paying for the liberal arts experience and campus community rather than maximizing math career earnings. The program delivers strong fundamentals and reasonable debt, but Massachusetts families should recognize they're not buying access to the state's highest-paying math trajectories. For students who thrive in smaller settings and don't need to crack six figures immediately, this works—just not at a premium price point.