Economics at College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,288/yr (28% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #100 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,068K $1,009K $819K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.1x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$243,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$147,472
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$118,102
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $69,288 per year, Economics graduates from College of the Holy Cross significantly outpace the $53,966 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 4.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 23% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #100 out of 351 programs, College of the Holy Cross's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $69,288 to $118,102 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About College of the Holy Cross

A 21% acceptance rate puts College of the Holy Cross in competitive admissions territory, a smaller institution with 3,015 students in Worcester, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $147,472 — 39% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at College of the Holy Cross →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at College of the Holy Cross

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does College of the Holy Cross's Economics program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. College of the Holy Cross's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →