College of the Holy Cross

Admission to College of the Holy Cross has grown selective as the institution climbs the national rankings. In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, the college placed 22nd, improving from 33rd in 2018. For the entering class of 2025, the college accepted 17.6 percent of applicants, placing its selectivity near the middle of its peer group. The college demonstrates strong drawing power among students who receive an offer of admission. Its yield rate reached 49.6 percent in 2025, which is higher than 97 percent of 30 private liberal arts colleges with similar rankings. This means nearly half of accepted students chose to enroll, indicating that prospective applicants must build strong profiles to secure a spot in an increasingly competitive cohort.

College of the Holy Cross operates under an admission test policy that is optional, considered if submitted. For the 2025 entering class, enrolled students who submitted scores achieved an ACT composite range of 27 to 32. In the same 2025 cohort, the school reported a median SAT score of 1340, which is higher than 3% of peer schools among similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges, where the peer median was 1480. Most students enrolled without submitting standardized test scores in 2025, reflecting low submission rates across both the SAT and ACT. Applicants seeking admission generally aim for standardized test marks that match or exceed these competitive ranges, while solid grade point averages and challenging secondary school coursework remain key components in evaluating academic preparation.

Academics at College of the Holy Cross focus exclusively on undergraduate education, conferring 747 bachelor degrees in 2025. Degrees are moderately concentrated, with the top three majors accounting for 41.1 percent of all bachelor graduates. The most popular fields are general economics, general psychology, and political science. While economics and psychology award the largest number of degrees, neither holds a top-tier national ranking, with economics ranked 110th and psychology ranked 143rd in 2027 by U.S. News. Graduate earnings vary considerably by discipline. According to 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, alumni from accounting and related services reported the highest median pay at $82,078, while economics graduates earned a median of $75,524. Prospective students should weigh program popularity against these disciplinary rankings and career earnings when selecting a course of study.

The student body at College of the Holy Cross consists entirely of undergraduates, with no graduate division. White students make up the largest demographic group across all class levels, followed by Hispanic and Latino peers. In the 2025 incoming first-year class, international students numbered 34, representing 4.1 percent of the cohort, while Asian students numbered 27, representing 3.2 percent. Among continuing upper-class cohorts, international and Asian undergraduates maintain comparable single-digit representations alongside small cohorts of transfer students. The student population is predominantly residential and focused on traditional collegiate study. For prospective international and Asian applicants, these figures illustrate that while their demographic groups form distinct minorities on campus, they remain integrated into the broader life of the college across all academic years.

Undergraduate enrollment at College of the Holy Cross consists almost entirely of traditional college-age students. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 made up 46.7 percent of the undergraduate population, while those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 45.1 percent. Students aged 22 to 24 represented 7 percent of the campus. Because the institution enrolls no graduate students, the student body shares a remarkably uniform developmental stage. Campus life, residential programming, and extracurricular activities are organized specifically around young adults completing their degrees over four consecutive years, creating a cohesive collegiate environment centered entirely on undergraduate experiences.

International enrollment at College of the Holy Cross has expanded over time, though it remains small relative to peer institutions. In 2025, international students comprised 3.7 percent of the undergraduate student body, an increase from earlier years. The college does not offer graduate degrees, so international presence is limited to the undergraduate level. Compared to 30 private liberal arts colleges with similar rankings, this undergraduate proportion is higher than 3 percent of peer institutions. Among graduating seniors in 2025, international students received 3.1 percent of all bachelor degrees. These international graduates clustered in selected academic disciplines, recording their highest concentrations in mathematics and psychology, while maintaining minimal presence in fields such as economics and political science. Prospective international applicants should understand that while the global student community on campus is growing, they will be part of a relatively small international cohort.

Applicants exploring College of the Holy Cross have several other higher education options within the Worcester area and broader Massachusetts. Located just 1.2 kilometers away, Clark University is a national university ranked 133rd in 2027. Also within Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is situated 2.6 kilometers from campus and holds a national university ranking of 73rd. For students seeking another private liberal arts environment, Wellesley College is located 25.9 kilometers away and was ranked 10th among national liberal arts colleges in 2027. In addition, Brandeis University, located 29.4 kilometers away, offers another private research university setting with a 2027 national university rank of 59th. These neighboring institutions provide families with diverse academic settings within close geographic range.

Campus safety data at College of the Holy Cross indicates a notable decrease in recorded offenses over recent years. In 2025, the college recorded a crime rate per 1,000 students of 11.2, down from earlier reporting periods. Incident categories from 2023 to 2025 reveal that institutional discipline represents the bulk of reported cases. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol infractions accounted for the largest category, totaling 210 incidents across those three years. By comparison, interpersonal offenses occurred at much lower frequencies, including 15 reported stalking incidents, alongside smaller numbers of sexual harassment, dating violence, and drug disciplinary referrals during the same timeframe. The concentration of infractions in alcohol conduct violations rather than serious violent crime suggests an environment where campus security and residential oversight primarily address student behavioral policy compliance.