Holy Cross: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially College of the Holy Cross · Worcester, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2023-2024
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2023-2024
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- 8,670
- Applicants
- 1,829
- Admitted21%
- 824
- Enrolled
- 45%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective21% admittedRanked #22 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #110 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2023-2024 Common Data Set published by College of the Holy Cross (see the source), read on 2026-09-16.
Is Holy Cross a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Holy Cross against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Holy Cross is a private nonprofit university in Worcester, Massachusetts that admits about 21% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $38,782 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Economics and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 90% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Holy Cross is a private institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Holy Cross admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 21%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1340 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,782 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Holy Cross?
Most admitted students at Holy Cross present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
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What does Holy Cross weight in admissions?
Holy Cross reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2023-2024). What the weights mean
Very Important
6- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Character/personal qualities
Important
2- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
Considered
10- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Holy Cross typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1270 |
| 50th percentile | 1340 |
| 75th percentile | 1420 |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional since 2006; non-submitters are at no disadvantage. TOEFL/IELTS may apply to non-native English speakers.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Holy Cross's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 38% |
| Top 25% of class | 69% |
| Top 50% of class | 94% |
| % submitting class rank | 22% |
How much does Holy Cross actually cost?
Published tuition is $64,500 for in-state students and $64,500 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,820 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,782 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $38,782 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $48,881 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Holy Cross
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | Mid-March |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 67% |
Will my child graduate from Holy Cross?
These predict outcomes at Holy Cross better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Holy Cross
The most popular undergraduate programs at Holy Cross, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Economics and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Holy Cross confers roughly 627 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $63,311 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 132 | $63,311 |
| Economics | 128 | $118,102 |
| Political Science and Government | 110 | $82,765 |
| History | 65 | $75,084 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 57 | $81,948 |
| Biology, General | 50 | $79,688 |
| Mathematics | 48 | $105,706 |
| Sociology | 37 | $68,340 |
Is Holy Cross safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Holy Cross disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
Next steps for Holy Cross
Common questions parents ask about Holy Cross
What GPA do I need for Holy Cross?
Most admitted students at Holy Cross present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Holy Cross typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32.
How much does Holy Cross actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Holy Cross after grants and scholarships is $38,782 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $64,500. Budget against the net figure.
Is Holy Cross realistic for my child?
Holy Cross admits 21% of applicants, so 610–700 SAT Math is target range and below 610 is a reach. Then check the $38,782 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Holy Cross?
Holy Cross accepts about 21% of applicants out of roughly 8,670 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Holy Cross test-optional?
Yes. Holy Cross is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Holy Cross?
About 90% of students at Holy Cross graduate within six years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Holy Cross?
Holy Cross's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 67%, compared with its overall rate of 21%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Holy Cross look for in applicants?
Holy Cross rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Holy Cross a public or private school, and where is it located?
Holy Cross is a private nonprofit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at Holy Cross?
The largest undergraduate majors at Holy Cross by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Economics and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 627 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Holy Cross safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Holy Cross reported 7 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2023-2024 Common Data Set submitted by College of the Holy Cross, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers