Quad

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MAQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 6 applicants admitted

College of the Holy Cross admits about 1 in 6 applicants (18%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 96% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

18%

18%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

9,568

Admitted

1,685

Yield

50%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1240–1410

10001600
ACT middle 50%

27–32

1836
Applications +80% since fall 2014 · admit rate 43% → 18%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,106 undergrads, where 15% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.1K

undergrads · larger than 70% of colleges

Diversity index

0.51

Pell Grant

15%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FCS · Patriot LeagueROTCStudy abroad
Steady · index 0.50 → 0.51 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Economics, General (16% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 89% of faculty are full-time. Spends $24,933 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Economics, General

16% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Economics

$118.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

89%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$24.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $55,128 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $30.8K more than the national median. The 57% who received grants paid $36,014 on average; the other 43% paid the full sticker price of $80,500.

32%

$55.1K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $30.8K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$80,500 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
23% · avg $35K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office
Cost steady · +1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $90,543 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 92% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

92%

92%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$90.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$27K

≈ $286/month for 10 years

Retention

95%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 92% → 87% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 80% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 43% to 18%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +80%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 43% → 18%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.50 → 0.51

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Lafayette College

31% admit · SAT 1420 · 2.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Northeast
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Bucknell University

32% admit · SAT 1390 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Skidmore College

24% admit · SAT 1405 · 2.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Colorado College

18% admit · SAT 1345 · 2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso private
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    College of the Holy Cross (2026)

    College of the Holy Cross · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 166124 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything