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College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
The College of the Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a highly esteemed liberal arts college with a rich history and a strong commitment to intellectual and personal growth. Founded in 1843, it was the first Catholic college in New England and has since become a leading institution in the Jesuit tradition. Holy Cross offers its students a rigorous academic curriculum, promoting critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, and ethical leadership. With a tight-knit community of approximately 3,000 undergraduate students, Holy Cross provides a supportive and engaging environment where students are encouraged to explore their interests and develop a well-rounded education.
Holy Cross is renowned for its strong liberal arts education, offering 30 majors and 35 minors across a wide range of disciplines. The college emphasizes small class sizes and close faculty-student interaction, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Students benefit from the exceptional faculty, who are committed to both teaching and research, and the college's dedication to hands-on learning experiences such as internships, research opportunities, and study abroad programs. Holy Cross also takes pride in its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, fostering a community where students from all backgrounds can thrive.
The campus itself is known for its picturesque beauty, featuring stunning gothic-style architecture and an inviting atmosphere. The college offers a vibrant and active campus life, with a variety of clubs, organizations, and student-led initiatives. Holy Cross' athletic programs are highly competitive, with the Crusaders competing in Division I of the NCAA, and the college boasts a strong alumni network that provides valuable post-graduation opportunities and support for students' future careers. Overall, the College of the Holy Cross offers an exceptional educational experience, preparing students to become well-rounded, engaged, and thoughtful leaders in their chosen fields.
College of the Holy Cross is a private four-year college located in Worcester, MA and set in a suburban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 21%. The freshman retention rate at College of the Holy Cross is 93% and the six-year graduation rate is 90%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is April 1.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into College of the Holy Cross.
Quick Facts
3,219
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
21%
Acceptance Rate
$63,650
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
90%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. How difficult is it to get admitted to College of the Holy Cross and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,829 in 2024. College of the Holy Cross has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. This renowned school with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 35% and ACT scores 19%. 29% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 59% between 1,200 and 1,399, 10% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 55, 39 between 24-29, 4 in the range between 18-23, and 2 between 12-17.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 669 and an average SAT Math score of 675.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 15. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is April 1.
21%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for College of the Holy Cross was 93%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 90%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best fit for you is not easy. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at College of the Holy Cross in 2024 was 3,219.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 60% for that year. There was a total of 3,219 undergraduate students, including 87 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 18.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,444 male and 1,754 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 106 Asian students and 129 Afro-American students in 2024. 372 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 119 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 92 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about College of the Holy Cross estimated tuition costs.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $63,650 in 2024. As College of the Holy Cross is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $850.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At College of the Holy Cross, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $18,820. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 was $8,320 for one academic year.
Tuition | $ 63,650 |
Room and Board | $ 18,820 |
Total Expense | $ 82,470 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for most students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid available at College of the Holy Cross.
The most recent records show that 363 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $48,472.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,180 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at College of the Holy Cross is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,417. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $3,137,393, and state $868,641.
$22,909
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
214 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2024. 55 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $10,823,326. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,453,716 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at College of the Holy Cross was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 348. This number included 171 men and 177 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at College of the Holy Cross.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at College of the Holy Cross is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at College of the Holy Cross.
It has a campus size of 174 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to the most recent information, there are 108 open-membership organizations at College of the Holy Cross. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Habitat for Humanity, followed by Black Student Union and Student Government Association. Other popular organizations among the students at College of the Holy Cross are Campus Activities Board and Student Programs for Urban Development.
If you are interested in music, you can join the College of the Holy Cross band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? College of the Holy Cross publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
College of the Holy Cross provides a number of services important for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at College of the Holy Cross is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at College of the Holy Cross.
Career Counselling
There are job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for full-time students only. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 66,091 USD.
$66,091
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA.
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College of the Holy Cross offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for College of the Holy Cross is 63,650 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for College of the Holy Cross is 21%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for College of the Holy Cross is 93%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.