College the of Holy Cross: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The College of the Holy Cross is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 34%. Founded by the Jesuits in 1843 and located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England. Holy Cross has an impressive retention and graduation rate, with well over 90% of entering students earning a degree within six years. The college was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, and the school's 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio means that students will have a lot of personal interaction with their professors. On the athletic front, the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot League.

Considering applying to Holy Cross? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Holy Cross had an acceptance rate of 34%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 34 students were admitted, making Holy Cross' admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Holy Cross has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Holy Cross may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required to do so. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 44% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted test scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Holy Cross' admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Holy Cross scored between 630 and 700, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 630 and 730, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored above 730. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1430 or higher is competitive for Holy Cross.

Requirements

The College of the Holy Cross does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Holy Cross participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Holy Cross does not require the optional essay portion of the SAT. Subject tests are not required but will be considered if provided.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Holy Cross has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 21% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Holy Cross' admitted students fall within the top 12% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Holy Cross received a composite ACT score between 28 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 28.

Requirements

Note that Holy Cross does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Holy Cross participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Holy Cross does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

The College of Holy Cross does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs. In 2019, over 52% of admitted students who provided data indicated that they ranked in the top tenth of their high school class.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the College of the Holy Cross. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Holy Cross, which accepts over a third of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, Holy Cross also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Holy Cross strongly recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Holy Cross' average range.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The majority of successful applicants had high school averages of A- or higher, combined SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Since Holy Cross has test-optional admissions, grades are much more important than test scores.

If You Like Holy Cross, You May Also Like These Schools

• Northeastern University
• Boston College
• Tufts University
• Brown University
• Dartmouth College
• Bowdoin College
• Boston University
• Colgate University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and College of the Holy Cross Undergraduate Admissions Office.