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Summary
College of the Holy Cross is a private institution that was founded in 1843. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,899, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 174 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of the Holy Cross's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 29. Its tuition and fees are $41,488 (2011-12).
Worcester, Mass., is the second-largest city in New England and a booming college town to boot. The College of the Holy Cross is one of 13 institutions in the area, so students have a variety of dining, nightlife, and outdoor options. Boston, another thriving college town, is 45 miles away. On the Holy Cross campus, students can choose from about 100 clubs and organizations in which to get involved. There is no Greek system at the Jesuit institution. All freshmen students must live on campus and must participate in the Montserrat program, which clusters together small groups of first-year students who take the same classes, live in the same themed residence areas, and engage in group activities. Close to 90 percent of students live on campus. A quarter of students play varsity sports in the NCAA Division I Patriot League. The costumed school mascot is known as the Crusader, the same name the sports teams take. Students can elect to study for a semester in another country, at another school, or in Washington, D.C. As the nation’s only Jesuit institution solely for undergraduates, Holy Cross offers spiritual activities and retreats throughout the school year. The student body is predominantly Catholic, but all faiths are welcome.
The College of the Holy Cross is one of 13 schools in the Worcester Consortium. As such, Holy Cross students can take classes at other schools and often receive discounted tickets to events around the city. Notable alumni include Hardball host Chris Matthews; Jon Favreau, speechwriter for President Obama; and, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
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Among America's top liberal arts colleges, Holy Cross is the only one that embraces a Catholic, Jesuit identity. And of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Holy Cross stands alone in its exclusive commitment to undergraduate education. There are no graduate teaching assistants; students receive the complete attention of an outstanding faculty, nearly all of whom have either a doctorate or other terminal degree. Students enjoy a full array of athletic facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and outstanding arts spaces. Holy Cross students also enjoy some of the most attractive and well-cared-for facilities in higher education. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1843 |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2010 Endowment | $522,493,344 |
Applying
When applying to College of the Holy Cross, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is December 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at College of the Holy Cross is $60. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 35.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 35% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at College of the Holy Cross is 11:1, and the school has 54.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at College of the Holy Cross include: Social Sciences; English Language and Literature/Letters; Psychology; Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics; and History. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 94.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 11:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 90% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
College of the Holy Cross has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,899, with a gender distribution of 45.9 percent male students and 54.1 percent female students. 89.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 11.0 percent of students live off campus. College of the Holy Cross is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at College of the Holy Cross.
| Total enrollment | 2,899 |
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| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
College of the Holy Cross offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, and health service. College of the Holy Cross also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at College of the Holy Cross, 35 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at College of the Holy Cross.
| Students who have cars on campus | 35% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | No |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At College of the Holy Cross, 55.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $28,077.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $41,488 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $11,270 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
