Holy Cross vs. Penn State Mont Alto

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Holy Cross is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (3,126 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Mont Alto is in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting).
• College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Penn State Mont Alto 10:1.

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Mont Alto Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto than Holy Cross ($19,675 vs. $36,014).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Mont Alto are 23.1% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($14,474 vs. $18,820).
• College of the Holy Cross is 347.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Mont Alto (about $50,092 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 167.3% higher at Holy Cross than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $40,366 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Mont Alto than at College of the Holy Cross (84% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 338.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($44,334 vs. $10,106).

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Mont Alto Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto and Holy Cross.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Holy Cross (1330) is 190 points higher than at Penn State Mont Alto (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto.

Holy Cross vs. Penn State Mont Alto Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto's (52%).
• Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $25,100 more per year than Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto graduates have a $682 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto 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.