College of the Holy Cross is a private institution that was founded in 1843. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,997 (fall 2020), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 174 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of the Holy Cross's ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #35. Its tuition and fees are $56,540.
Worcester, Mass., is the second-largest city in New England and a booming college town to boot. The College of the Holy Cross is one of more than a dozen institutions in the area, so students have a variety of dining, nightlife and outdoor options. Boston, another thriving college town, is 45 miles away. On the Holy Cross campus, students can choose from more than 100 clubs and organizations in which to get involved. There is no Greek system at the Jesuit institution. All freshmen must live on campus and must participate in the Montserrat program, which clusters together small groups of first-year students who take the same classes, live in the same themed residence areas and engage in group activities. About 90 percent of students live on campus. A quarter of students play varsity sports in the NCAA Division I Patriot League. The costumed school mascot is known as the Crusader, the same name the sports teams take. Students can elect to study for a semester in another country, at another school or in Washington, D.C.
As the nation’s only Jesuit institution solely for undergraduates, Holy Cross offers spiritual activities and retreats throughout the school year. The student body is predominantly Catholic, but all faiths are welcome. The College of the Holy Cross is one of 13 schools in the Worcester Consortium. As such, Holy Cross students can take classes at other schools and often receive discounted tickets to events around the city. Notable alumni include "Hardball" host Chris Matthews; Jon Favreau, former director of speechwriting for President Obama; and, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
General Information
School Type
Private, Coed
Year Founded
1843
Religious Affiliation
Roman Catholic
Academic Calendar
Semester
Setting
Suburban
Phone
(508) 793-2011
School Website
WebsiteCollege of the Holy Cross's 2022 Rankings
College of the Holy Cross is ranked #35 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
- #35in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
- #55in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
- #95in Best Value Schools
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College of the Holy Cross Alumni Starting Salaries
Below are the median starting salaries by major for alumni of College of the Holy Cross.
By major
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
History, General
Data provided by Last updated 2021.
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College of the Holy Cross Photos
Holy Cross Admissions
College of the Holy Cross admissions is more selective with an acceptance rate of 38%. Half the applicants admitted to Holy Cross have an SAT score between 1290 and 1430 or an ACT score of 29 and 32. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges. The application deadline is Jan. 15 and the application fee at College of the Holy Cross is $60.
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Academic Life at Holy Cross
The student-faculty ratio at College of the Holy Cross is 10:1, and the school has 51.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at College of the Holy Cross include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; Psychology, General; English Language and Literature, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Mathematics, General; Chemistry, General; History, General; Spanish Language and Literature; and International/Globalization Studies. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93%.
Class Sizes:
Total faculty
Student Life at Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,997 (fall 2020), with a gender distribution of 45% male students and 55% female students. At this school, 90% of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing and 10% of students live off campus. In sports, College of the Holy Cross is part of the NCAA I.
Student Gender Distribution:
Full-time degree-seeking students
College of the Holy Cross Tuition & Financial Aid
At College of the Holy Cross, 51% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $35,972.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.
:
Applied for need-based aid
Need was fully met
Received need-based financial aid
Received need-based self-help aid
Average percent of need met
Minimum credits per term a student can take for full-time tuition price
Campus Safety
Campus safety data were reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and have not been independently verified. The numbers for criminal offenses reflect reports of alleged offenses to campus security and/or law enforcement authorities, not necessarily prosecutions or convictions. Experts advise prospective students and their families to do their own research to evaluate the safety of a campus as well as the surrounding area.
College of the Holy Cross Campus
College of the Holy Cross offers a number of student services, including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, health insurance. College of the Holy Cross also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc.). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at College of the Holy Cross.
Nearest airports (miles)
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Undergraduate data are based on the 2020 school year.
* Median starting salary for alumni with three years of postgraduation work experience and whose highest degree is a bachelor's
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