Loyola University Maryland vs. Holy Cross vs. UMass

Compare Loyola University Maryland, 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.

Loyola University Maryland
College of the Holy Cross
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Loyola University Maryland Large City
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola University Maryland 4,897
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Loyola University Maryland Private 4 Year
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola University Maryland #176
  • Holy Cross #79
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola University Maryland Roman Catholic
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Loyola University Maryland Non-profit
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola University Maryland
  • Holy Cross
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola University Maryland $57,150
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola University Maryland $57,150
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola University Maryland $19,090
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola University Maryland $32,846
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola University Maryland $41,341
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola University Maryland 99%
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola University Maryland 10,797
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Loyola University Maryland 8,151
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola University Maryland 75.5%
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola University Maryland 11.6%
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola University Maryland 1290
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola University Maryland 30
  • Holy Cross 29
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola University Maryland 3.65
  • Holy Cross -
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola University Maryland A-
  • Holy Cross -
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola University Maryland Very High
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola University Maryland
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola University Maryland 28/32
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola University Maryland 1200/1370
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola University Maryland Test optional
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola University Maryland Jan 15, 2027
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola University Maryland 12:1
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola University Maryland
    • Business (35%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • 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
  • Loyola University Maryland 83%
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola University Maryland $76,600
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola University Maryland 84%
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola University Maryland $27,000
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola University Maryland $279
  • Holy Cross $284
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola University Maryland 41%
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Loyola University Maryland 59%
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola University Maryland Low
  • Holy Cross Low
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Loyola University Maryland No
  • Holy Cross No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Loyola University Maryland 78%
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola University Maryland 4%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Loyola University Maryland 6%
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola University Maryland 9%
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola University Maryland 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola University Maryland 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola University Maryland 2%
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Loyola University Maryland 0%
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola University Maryland 0%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola University Maryland 35%
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola University Maryland 63%
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Loyola University Maryland is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (4,897 students vs. 3,126 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Maryland is located in Baltimore, MD (Large City setting); College of the Holy Cross is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Loyola University Maryland 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: Loyola University Maryland 12:1; College of the Holy Cross 9:1.

Loyola University Maryland vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola University Maryland 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 Loyola University Maryland than Holy Cross ($32,846 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 1.4% lower than at Loyola University Maryland ($18,820 vs. $19,090).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loyola University Maryland (about $7,350 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $57,150.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.9% higher at Holy Cross than at Loyola University Maryland (about $7,350 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $57,150.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Loyola University Maryland 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 7.2% larger than aid received by Loyola University Maryland students ($44,334 vs. $41,341).

Loyola University Maryland vs. Holy Cross Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola University Maryland 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 Loyola University Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at College of the Holy Cross (1330) is 40 points higher than at Loyola University Maryland (1290).
  • Incoming Loyola University Maryland students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Loyola University Maryland 1200/1370; College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Loyola University Maryland 28/32; College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola University Maryland - Test optional; Holy Cross - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Loyola University Maryland Jan 15, 2027; Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Loyola University Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.6% at Loyola University Maryland vs. 49.6% at Holy Cross.

Loyola University Maryland vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola University Maryland 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 Loyola University Maryland's (83%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Loyola University Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $76,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Maryland graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola University Maryland 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 Loyola University Maryland students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.