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Colleges / College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA • 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate43%
Acceptance Rate43%
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Located atop Mount St. James in Worcester, Mass., the campus provides inspiring views, enthralling architecture, beautiful landscaping, and first-rate facilities. As the second-largest city in New England, Worcester offers ample opportunities for academic and social exploration.

Holy Cross is a highly selective, undergraduate, Jesuit, liberal arts institution and is ranked among the nation's leading four-year liberal arts colleges. From student achievement to post-graduate success, the college routinely exceeds national performance benchmarks.

Hailing from 33 states and 15 countries and territories, the newly-minted Class of 2025 received a warm welcome to the Holy Cross community on Move-In Day 2021.

Each year, hundreds of Holy Cross students spend their summer gaining valuable professional experience through a wide range of internships. Meet three students who used their summer internships to pursue their passions and develop career-related skills outside the classroom.

A day before they graduated from Holy Cross, seniors took a moment to reflect on what the College has taught them about themselves, how they've learned to work hard, and how they're planning to use their education to make the world a better place.

Each year at Christmastime, the College of the Holy Cross campus celebrates with festive decorations, annual celebrations and performances of seasonal songs.

Take a moment to experience autumn at the College of the Holy Cross.

Get a glimpse of what life is like on the Holy Cross campus after the sun sets.

Montserrat is the innovative first-year program at Holy Cross that smooths the transition from high school to college, and helps students understand their purpose in the world.

Faculty are highly accomplished in their specialties and in their teaching profession. And with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, among the best in the nation, students at Holy Cross are able to receive highly personalized attention.

While embracing a Catholic, Jesuit tradition, Holy Cross welcomes students of all faith traditions.

Holy Cross sponsors 27 varsity sports, most at the NCAA Division I level. As one of the smallest Division I schools, Holy Cross strives to compete with the best in the nation and has achieved impressive results.

New England is known for its foliage, and the Holy Cross campus — nestled on a hillside in Central Massachusetts — provides the perfect setting to take in the fall colors.

Students love it here. Want proof? Our 95 percent first-year retention rate is among the best in the country.

Ninety percent of students live on campus at Holy Cross.

From creative writing to music to theatre to visual arts, Holy Cross offers a wealth of opportunities to study and get involved in the arts.

Students participate in a breadth of service and social justice programs both on campus and beyond.

With a spectrum of more than 100 clubs and organizations, there are unlimited ways to develop personally and professionally at Holy Cross — while also having the time of your life.

Holy Cross graduates are admitted to medical school at a rate of 76% and law school at a rate of 91%.

From club sports to community service, student-led organizations, and late-night conversations with friends, we know that growth happens everywhere and that impact starts the moment you step on campus.

From the newly-renovated Main Dining Room in Kimball to the Cool Beans coffee shop in the Hogan Campus Center, the nine dining options at Holy Cross are convenient, healthy, tasty and varied.

A Holy Cross education will prepare you exceptionally well for life after graduation. In almost every industry you can think of, our alumni serve as leaders of their field, tackling complex challenges with skill and alacrity.

The Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society helps students articulate their value proposition by connecting the skills developed from their Jesuit, liberal arts education with the business knowledge gained from various workshops.

The new J.D. Power Center for Liberal Arts in the World offers a range of experiential learning opportunities to students, where they can integrate their academics with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.

Holy Cross has received national recognition for its beautiful landscape.

With a liberal arts degree from Holy Cross, our students have a history of finding success in a variety of fields shortly after graduation. Check out how graduates of the Class of 2020 fared within their first year after Holy Cross.

About Holy Cross

As one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, Holy Cross attracts students who thrive on challenge. Whether by daring to ask (and answer) complex questions in their classes and labs, studying in another country or pushing themselves on the playing field, our students embrace opportunities to go further. And those opportunities are abundant. Our liberal arts approach, combined with our Jesuit identity, creates an environment where students can openly explore their intellectual interests and beliefs — and do so in a community that values service to others and the pursuit of purposeful, passion-driven lives.

College of the Holy Cross Overview

College of the Holy Cross is a private, religious school in the suburban setting of Worcester, Massachusetts. Holy Cross was founded in 1843 and enrolls 3,138 undergrads and no graduate students. Holy Cross provides on-campus housing for up to 2,502 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 90% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to Holy Cross for Fall 2023 is January 15. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should receive admissions decisions by March 25.

Student Activities at Holy Cross

Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Are you interested in journalism and communications? Holy Cross students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Holy Cross does not have any greek life opportunties.

Planning to play sports? Holy Cross has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Holy Cross on the Student Life page.

2022 Holy Cross Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate 43%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate 82%
Early Action Acceptance Rate EA not offered
Applicants Submitting SAT scores 40%
Tuition $57,600
Percent of Need Met 100%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package $45,608

Is Holy Cross a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a better idea of what Holy Cross offers and if it seems like the right college for you.

Holy Cross Acceptance Rate 2022

Holy Cross is very difficult to get into. The university admitted 43% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 6,498 students applied to Holy Cross and 2,786 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Holy Cross

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Holy Cross, around 96% come back the next year. Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 93%. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outlook Holy Cross Graduates

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. 58% of graduates from Holy Cross recieve at least one full-time job offer within six months of graduating.

The average starting salary for recent Holy Cross grads is $61,783 a year. Average starting salaries vary by discipline, but the average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year.

Holy Cross's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of College of the Holy Cross's endowment was $1.043 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $20,447 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Holy Cross

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Holy Cross meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Holy Cross full-time are awarded $45,608 a year in financial aid, on average.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $25,471 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Holy Cross.

Based on this information, is Holy Cross the school for you? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Holy Cross a good school for you?

If College of the Holy Cross seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Exploring Schools?

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Holy Cross:

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Holy Cross Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting admitted to some of the most popular schools in the U.S.

Where is Holy Cross?

Holy Cross is located in the suburban setting of Worcester, Massachusetts, in the suburbs of Boston.

If you want to see Holy Cross for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Worcester, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Logan International Airport, Boston.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Holy Cross and Worcester are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Massachusetts?

See a full list of colleges in Massachusetts and save your favorites to your college list.

College Info

1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395

Campus Setting: Suburban

Holy Cross Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 15

Transfer Applications are Due

Apr 1

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Holy Cross is Jan 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Holy Cross is Apr 1.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

College of the Holy Cross is a member of the Coalition for College.

More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.

Learn More

Holy Cross ACT Scores

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ACT Range

28 - 32

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

32 and Above

Good

28 to 32

Avg

28 and Less

Low

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ACT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median ACT score of an admitted student to Holy Cross is 30. Students with an ACT score of 32 and above have a good chance of getting into Holy Cross. Students with an ACT score that falls between 28 and 32 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 28 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.

Holy Cross SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1240 - 1420

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Math SAT Range

610 - 710

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Reading SAT Range

630 - 710

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1420 and Above

Good

1240 to 1420

Avg

1240 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for Holy Cross students is 1330. Applicants with SAT scores of 1420 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Holy Cross, while applicants with SAT scores between 1240 to 1420 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1240 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Holy Cross.

Holy Cross Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$75,980

In State

$75,980

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$57,600
$57,600
Fees
$760
$760
Housing
$16,620
$16,620
Books
$1,000
$1,000
Total (Before Financial Aid):
$75,980
$75,980

Student Life

Wondering what life at Holy Cross is like? There are approximately 3,138 students enrolled at Holy Cross. 99% percent of students attend school full-time, 40% percent are from MA and 60% percent of students are from other states.

99%

Full Time

1%

Part Time

40%

In State

60%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

3,138

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

43%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$58,360

Out-of-State

$58,360

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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