Clark University vs. Holy Cross vs. Bentley vs. Northeastern

Should I go to Clark University or College of the Holy Cross? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clark University or Holy Cross is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clark University vs. College of the Holy Cross vs. Bentley University vs. Northeastern University comparison
Clark University College of the Holy Cross Bentley University Northeastern University
Clark University College of the Holy Cross Bentley University Northeastern University
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Overview

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Location Worcester, MA Worcester, MA Waltham, MA Boston, MA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City Small City Large City
Enrollment 4,124 3,035 5,264 31,159
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #153 #81 #108 #132
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarku.edu holycross.edu bentley.edu northeastern.edu
Team Colors                                        

Costs

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Tuition (In State) $54,760 $60,050 $58,150 $62,000
Tuition (Out of State) $54,760 $60,050 $58,150 $62,000
Room & Board $11,690 $17,750 $19,200 $18,790
Avg Net Price $32,767 $35,455 $43,858 $34,770
Avg Grant Aid $31,916 $41,140 $33,293 $46,558
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 58% 86% 73%

Admission

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Applied 10,730 8,670 10,482 96,631
Admitted 4,471 1,829 5,077 5,459
Acceptance Rate 41.7% 21.1% 48.4% 52.1%
Enrolled % 14.1% 45% 22.1% 54%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 - 3.75 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ - A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High Low Extreme
ACT Range 30/33 28/32 29/32 33/35
SAT Range 1240/1400 1250/1420 1250/1410 1460/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)
  • Business (82%)
  • Engineering (35%)
  • Health Professions (35%)
  • Social Sciences (30%)
  • Communication (21%)

Outcomes

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Graduation Rate 80% 91% 88% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,100 $80,400 $87,200 $69,500
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 87% 92% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,500 $26,500 $27,875
Median Loan Payment $279 $284 $274 $288

Diversity

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
% Men 23% 0% 9% 26%
% Women 20% 0% 9% 23%
Racial Diversity High Low Medium Very High
HBCU No No No No
% White 57% 70% 62% 48%
% Black 4% 4% 3% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 10% 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0% 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3% 2% 4%
% International 15% 2% 14% 20%
% Unknown Race 8% 5% 3% 6%

Students

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
% In-State 36% 35% 38% 21%
% Out-of-State 60% 61% 46% 66%

Campus

 Clark University Holy Cross Bentley Northeastern
Campus Housing Yes Yes Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No No Yes
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Comparable Facts

  • Clark University is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 3,035 students)

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Holy Cross?

  • College of the Holy Cross is 9.7% more expensive to attend than Clark University for in-state tuition ($60,050.00 vs. $54,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.7% higher at Holy Cross than Clark University ($60,050.00 vs. $54,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clark University than Holy Cross ($32,767 vs. $35,455)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 51.8% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($11,690 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clark University than College of the Holy Cross (97% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 28.9% larger than aid received Clark University ($41,140 vs. $31,916)

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Holy Cross? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Holy Cross or Clark University .

  • Clark University has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Holy Cross (21.1%)

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clark University or Holy Cross? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Holy Cross and Clark University.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than Clark University (91% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $30,300 more per year than Clark University graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $50,100)
  • Clark University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Clark University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/