Clark University vs. Holy Cross vs. UMass

Compare Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, and University of Massachusetts Amherst side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Clark University
College of the Holy Cross
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clark University Worcester, MA
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Clark University Midsize City
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Clark University 3,925
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Clark University Private 4 Year
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clark University #148
  • Holy Cross #79
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clark University -
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Clark University Non-profit
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clark University
  • Holy Cross
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Clark University $12,500
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Clark University $33,865
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clark University $34,667
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clark University 99%
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clark University 11,452
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Clark University 4,528
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clark University 39.5%
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Clark University 10.7%
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clark University 1370
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clark University 31
  • Holy Cross 29
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clark University 3.69
  • Holy Cross -
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clark University A-
  • Holy Cross -
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clark University Very High
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clark University Low
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clark University 30/33
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Clark University 1288/1460
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clark University Test optional
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clark University Jan 15, 2027
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clark University 8:1
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clark University
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Psychology (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clark University 80%
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clark University $50,100
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clark University 82%
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clark University $27,000
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clark University $279
  • Holy Cross $284
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clark University 48%
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Clark University 52%
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clark University High
  • Holy Cross Low
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clark University No
  • Holy Cross No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Clark University 57%
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Clark University 7%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Clark University 4%
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clark University 7%
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Clark University 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clark University 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clark University 2%
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Clark University 15%
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clark University 8%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clark University 33%
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clark University 59%
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Clark University Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Clark University No
  • Holy Cross No
  • UMass No
  • Meal Plan
  • Clark University Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Clark University No
  • Holy Cross No
  • UMass Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Clark University No
  • Holy Cross No
  • UMass Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark University in Worcester, MA with College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark University is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (3,925 students vs. 3,126 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark University is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); College of the Holy Cross is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Clark University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark University 8:1; College of the Holy Cross 9:1.

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Holy Cross? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clark University than Holy Cross ($33,865 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 33.6% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($12,500 vs. $18,820).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clark University (about $5,633 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $58,867.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Holy Cross than at Clark University (about $5,633 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $58,867.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark University than at College of the Holy Cross (99% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 27.9% larger than aid received by Clark University students ($44,334 vs. $34,667).

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Holy Cross? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Holy Cross and Clark University.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Clark University (1370) is 40 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming Clark University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clark University 1288/1460; College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clark University 30/33; College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark University - Test optional; Holy Cross - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clark University Jan 15, 2027; Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Clark University has a higher acceptance rate (39.5%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Clark University vs. 49.6% at Holy Cross.

Clark University vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark University and Holy Cross? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Clark University's (80%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $30,300 more per year than Clark University graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $50,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clark University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Clark University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.