Overview of Holy Cross, College of the

The College of the Holy Cross is a private liberal arts college situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. The institution has an outstanding graduation and retention rate, with over 90% of freshmen earning a degree within six years. The college was given a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its accomplishments in the liberal arts and STEM. The school’s 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio means that students will have a lot of personalized instruction with their professors. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 3,128 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 49 percent male/51 percent female
• 99 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $54,740
• Books: $1,000
• Room and Board: $15,070
• Other Expenses: $900
• Total Cost: $71,710

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 74 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 61 percent
  • Loans: 56 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $37,758
  • Loans: $7,071

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Economics, General; Psychology, General; Political Science and Government, General; English Language and Literature, General; and History, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 95 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 6 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 88 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 92 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• On the athletic front, the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders play in the NCAA Division I Patriot League.

Overview of Holy Cross, College of the Admissions

Holy Cross, which accepts over a third of applicants, has a competitive admissions process. However, Holy Cross is test-optional, meaning that students can select whether to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants must complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside the admission offices’ mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data                        

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Holy Cross had an acceptance rate of 38%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 38 students gained admission, making Holy Cross’ admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 46% of admitted students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals that of those who provided test scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Holy Cross’ admitted students fall within the top 20% on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Holy Cross scored between 640 and 710, while 25% scored below 640, and 25% scored over 710. 50% of admitted students scored between 640 and 710 on the math section, while 25% scored below 640, and 25% scored over 710. While the SAT is not required, this data reveals that a composite SAT score of 1420 or higher is competitive for Holy Cross.

ACT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 27% of admitted students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that of those who provided scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Holy Cross’ admitted students fall within the top 11% on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to the Holy Cross received a composite ACT score between 28 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored below 28.

GPA

The College of Holy Cross does not provide data about admitted students’ high school GPAs.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for the College of the Holy Cross, it should be easy for you to gain admission to the schools below. If the College of the Holy Cross is currently out of your reach, you can be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, Drexel University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for the College of the Holy Cross, you should have an equal chance of gaining admission to these schools.

Lehigh University, University of Florida, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin, University of Miami, University of Washington, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than College of the Holy Cross. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

Northeastern University, Emory University, University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College

Applying to College of the Holy Cross

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website:  https://www.holycross.edu/admissions-aid

Undergraduate Application Link(s):  https://www.holycross.edu/admissions-aid/apply