College of the Holy Cross is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,106 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes94
Value35
Affordability6
Selectivity91
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 17.6%, College of the Holy Cross is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
17.6%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1240 – 1410
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
27 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether College of the Holy Cross is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
13.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of the Holy Cross isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,782 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,782
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$64,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,820
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,820
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$900
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$900
Total Cost of Attendance
$80,334
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,343
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,179
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,682
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,711
Over $110,000
$56,284
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$8,00010%percentile
$19,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,91975%percentile
$32,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,925
↓ $4,075
No Pell $26,844
↓ $156
Female students $24,532
↓ $2,468
Male students $26,893
↓ $107
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,704, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
92% of full-time students who enrolled at College of the Holy Cross graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
92%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
94%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of the Holy Cross earn a median of $90,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$90,543
Earning > $25K
92%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$75,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$104,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $29,100, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
College of the Holy Cross is home to 3,106 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,106
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.3%2,121
Hispanic 12.9%399
Black 4.7%146
Other 4.2%131
International 3.2%100
Asian 3.2%99
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of the Holy Cross. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityWorcester, Massachusetts
Housing
Strongly residential2,719 beds for 3,106 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
College of the Holy Cross offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Holy Cross is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.3B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,309
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
313 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
100
32%
$139,920
Associate Professors
82
26%
$109,946
Assistant Professors
102
33%
$79,495
Instructors
4
1%
$84,341
Lecturers
25
8%
$72,852
Pros & Cons of College of the Holy Cross
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of the Holy Cross tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, College of the Holy Cross is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about College of the Holy Cross
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of the Holy Cross.
Is College of the Holy Cross hard to get into?
College of the Holy Cross is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 17.6%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross has an acceptance rate of 17.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for College of the Holy Cross?
The middle 50% of admitted students at College of the Holy Cross scored between 1240 and 1410 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for College of the Holy Cross?
The middle 50% of admitted students at College of the Holy Cross scored between 27 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does College of the Holy Cross cost?
The average net price after aid at College of the Holy Cross is $38,782 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of the Holy Cross worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $90,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,782 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of the Holy Cross known for?
College of the Holy Cross is best known for its programs in Economics, Political Science, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of the Holy Cross graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of the Holy Cross are $90,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of the Holy Cross accredited?
Yes. College of the Holy Cross is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross enrolls 3,106 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross graduates 92% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of the Holy Cross a public or private college?
College of the Holy Cross is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is College of the Holy Cross located?
College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
What programs does College of the Holy Cross offer?
College of the Holy Cross offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Political Science, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Holy Cross?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Holy Cross is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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