The invention relates to a catalyst for hydrocracking of xylitol, in particular to a supported catalyst and application thereof in hydrocracking reaction of xylitol. A non precious metal Ni is used as a hydrogenation active ingredient; an aid is one or more of Ru, Pd, Pt, Mo, Sn, Mg, Zn, Ce, Cu, Al and Zr; a carrier is active carbon; and a preparation method comprises the following steps of: supporting aqueous solution of soluble metal salt on the active carbon carrier; performing carbothermic reduction by roasting a metal salt precursor supported on the active carbon carrier at high temperature of between 450 and 650 DEG C to obtain a metal catalyst; and treating the metal catalyst for 1 to 4 hours by using 1-2mol/L KBH4 solution. Under the action of the catalyst, the xylitol is efficiently hydrocracked to form glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol, the conversion rate is over 80 percent, and the total selectivity is over 90 percent.