Holy Cross vs. Penn State

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of the Holy Cross
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Holy Cross No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Holy Cross No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Holy Cross No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Holy Cross ($27,889 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.1% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($14,474 vs. $18,820).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 212.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $43,856 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.3% higher at Holy Cross than at Penn State Main Campus (about $22,710 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than at Penn State Main Campus (57% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 291.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($44,334 vs. $11,336).

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Holy Cross.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Holy Cross (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Holy Cross students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Penn State Main Campus's (87%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $25,100 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $682 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($277 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 69%)

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.