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 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 |
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
Choose one of the options below to learn more about Holy Cross:
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.
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.
See a full list of colleges in Massachusetts and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
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
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.
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
32 and Above
28 to 32
28 and Less
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.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1420 and Above
1240 to 1420
1240 and Less
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.
Tuition & Fees
$75,980
In State$75,980
Out-of-StateWondering 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 Time1%
Part Time40%
In State60%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!
Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!
Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.