About College of the Holy Cross

Founded in 1843, College of the Holy Cross. is a Private college. Located in Massachusetts, which is a city setting in Massachusetts, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 2,720 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The College of the Holy Cross Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 277 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at College of the Holy Cross include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate38%
Application Deadline15-Dec
Application Fee60
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at CHC are considered More Selective, with ,25% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 11 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 95% were in the top quarter, and 60% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at College of the Holy Cross.

6%
“We”re apathetic”
38%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
23%
“Sometimes, but not often”
56%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
21%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
25%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
14%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
24%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
39%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
4%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
25%
“They keep regular office hours”
75%
“They”re always available”
98%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
2%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
50%
“We only party on weekends”
46%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
19%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
71%
“There might be people who do”
10%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
38%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
23%
“Sometimes, but not often”
56%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
21%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
25%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
14%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
24%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
39%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
4%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
25%
“They keep regular office hours”
75%
“They”re always available”
98%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
2%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
50%
“We only party on weekends”
46%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
19%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
71%
“There might be people who do”
10%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

College of the Holy Cross REVIEWS

Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    49 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    28 Students rated off-campus housing 3.2 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    49 Students rated campus food 3.1 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    49 Students rated campus facilities 4.4 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    49 Students rated class size 4.8 stars. 84 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    49 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 51 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    49 Students rated local services 3.4 stars. 22 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    49 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of College of the Holy Cross?

10 Students rated College of the Holy Cross

Tiffany

I like the school a lot as a first-year. Although there are some things I would change about campus culture, they are not so major to take away from the beauty of the campus and the general academic status. I would recommend the school. I think that it could be a little more welcoming/do a little more with POC students but the institution tries.

Megan

I think it is highly challenging on the academic side and as well as the athletic side. I think if you go here it is important to play a sport, or get involved! It is a fantastic academic school, and if you are looking for a good education this is a place you should consider!

Ryan

My experience thus far has been fantastic! Extremely vigorous academically, but plenty of opportunities to have fun. Great involvement in community activities, and politically/socially active campus. There are not a lot of options related to housing on campus compared to other colleges and universities, and could use a bit more food options.

Juliana

The College of the Holy Cross provides an outstanding opportunity for young adults to identify their place in the world and uncover their academic passions. Intellectual conversations occur inside and outside the classroom, and professors are more than simply teachers; they are advisors and mentors in their respective fields. Also, the sense of community is strong. I would highly recommend.

College of the Holy Cross FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at College of the Holy Cross?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for College of the Holy Cross is 38%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Parents: Watch and help your children through the process, but the choice is up to them. Even if you're helping to pay for college, if they are at a university that they are miserable at, your decision will not have been the right one. Students: Stay overnight at the college and sit in on a few classes to get a better case study of the college. This will give you a more realistic impression than any admissions-created pamphlet. Both: Enjoy the process and think the whole thing through. It is the student's first major life-changing decision, so make it count.

    Read all  58 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Most are typically preppy caucasian rich kids who love to drink.

    Read all  48 answers
  4. What are the academics like at your school?

    Definitely challenging, but the professors are attentive and students seem to enjoy helping one another.

    Read all  46 answers
  5. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    not diverse balcks and whites very segregated I dont consider myself racist in any way and I am very open-minded, but I still have almost no black or asian friends very intense work-load is true bueatiful campus

    Read all  45 answers
  6. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Not at all. When I was going to Holy Cross, I thought the religious aspect was going to be overpowering, but it is quite the opposite. People are very chill and if you go to church then you go, whatev. That is the basic mentality. Of course there are pockets of conservative people, but I would say that we are a pretty liberal school, definatly the most liberal catholic school, look, we have an allies group, a gay group and a support center. Pretty progressive for a catholic school. Holy Cross is more about learning and being there for others, no matter who they are. Pretty sweet, I think. As for the other stereotype, people do like their J. Crew, but it has definatly slowed down since I first got there. Holy Cross is definatly not a snobby, rich "daddy's wallet" school like people think.

    Read all  45 answers
  7. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    As someone who was skeptical about going to Holy Cross, I absolutely love it here! There is a great community feel and almost all of the people I have met here are kind and intelligent.

    Read all  43 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Activities are a little limited here at Holy Cross. Because of the lack of transportation and the lack of things to do in Worcester, the main amusement for most of the students is drinking and partying, and drinking some more. You don't hear too much about drugs, besides pot every once and a while, but mainly Holy Cross is a drinking school. The College tries to put on events, some work out better than others. The most popular are: Last Comic Standing, Black and Gold Fashion Show, Noche Latina, Explorasia, Vagina Monalogues, and Holy Cross Idol. We also have Spring Weekend, before finals when a singer comes and there is a carnival. Holy Cross really does try to make it fun on the weekends, but if there do not make the grade for the sudents, the people who go to the others things are usually drunk beforehand.

    Read all  38 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Smaller, friendly, just undergrad.

    Read all  31 answers
  10. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    very little research.

    Read all  19 answers
  11. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    My school is best known for their rigorous academics and prestigious facilities. I admire every building I enter at my college and I feel that their are an infinite number of areas to study quietly and efficiently.

    Read all  14 answers
  12. What's unique about your campus?

    Study abroad, because you get to spend an entire year in a different country instead of just a semester.

    Read all  11 answers
  13. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    holy cross is too focused on a liberal education and doesn't give students enough practical education for use in the real world.

    Read all  10 answers
  14. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    The extreme financial toll it would take on me and my family. Also the abundance of extra curricular activities available to students.

    Read all  10 answers
  15. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Someone who is prone to panic attacks, who gets easily stressed out, or someone that doesn't really want to focus.

    Read all  7 answers
  16. What kind of person should attend this school?

    The type of person who should attend this school is a person who wishes to be academically challenged and also wants to feel as part of a community. The person should be mature and caring about others. A student at Holy Cross needs to be able to feel comfortable having their ideas challenged and be able to defend their opinions. Also, teachers and students do foster relationships because of the small class sizes, so a person who attends Holy Cross must enjoy personal bonds with their professors.

    Read all  6 answers
  17. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    not being allowed to have a car on campus until junior year. WORCESTER SUCKS!!

    Read all  6 answers
  18. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Holy Cross gave me an incredible education. Because it is a liberal arts school, I was able to participate in the renowned Pre-Medical program while studying music, and still have the background to apply for the program I am in now at Boston College where I obtained my RN license in 11 months and am one semester away from finishing my master's in nursing. I also had incredible opportunities musically - I sang at Lincoln Center and at the Vatican in Rome. In contrast, I am not thrilled with Boston College as a graduate school.

    Read all  4 answers
  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The most well known stereotypes of Holy Cross are that majority of the student body are snobby, rich white kids that come from affluent families. Another one is since Holy Cross is a Jesuit School you have to be catholic.

    Read all  3 answers
  20. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    Sports are a fairly big part of life at Holy Cross - we're Division 1 and we're in the Patriot League for football (which we won just the other year *woot*). We're the school who produced Bob Cousy and some other big sports names so the alumni will come out to see games, which is nice. Basketball and Football are definitely the biggest draws, and it's always fun to paint up in purple and go cheer on the team. And if you don't play varsity yourself, there's lots of opportunities to still play a sport. Something like 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of our student body was involved in varsity sports in high school so there's a lot of athletic kids on campus who are really energetic about intramural and club sports. Gyms are great, too! In one gym, there are tv's on every machine. . . not a bad thing. Bottom Line: You wanna play a sport, you'll be fine here!

    Read all  2 answers
  21. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    Holy Cross was definitely my number one choice. The first person that I was in contact with was one of the Admissions Directors. All the admission directors are very friendly and willing to answer any questions that I had about Holy Cross. I went to various open houses, and tours. Before I realized it, I knew so much about Holy Cross and slowly i was liking it more and more. What made the final decision was the fact that it was closer to home and the various opportunities and the connections that Holy Cross has with its alumni.

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

51%

female

49%

male

2,720

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

58%

Out-Of-State

42%

In-State

N/A

International

Organizations

100

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

86%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
5%
% Black or African-American
4%
% Hispanic/Latino
10%
% White or Caucasian
69%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

72% of students attending College of the Holy Cross receive some sort of financial aid. 16% were awarded federal grants. While 53% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$48,940

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$13,225

Room and Board

63,165

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,169
$30 - $48K
$13,953
$48 - $75K
$17,426
$75 - $110K
$27,062
$110K & UP
$44,629

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS

Find your perfect match from over 3 million scholarships!

START YOUR SEARCH

CAN YOU GET INTO College of the Holy Cross?

Complete your profile to see if this school is a fit for you, and what your chances of admitance are.

START YOUR SEARCH