Your chances of getting into College of the Holy Cross
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Holy Cross is 42.9%. Its admission rate is the 14th lowest in Massachusetts and the 155th lowest the nation.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Holy Cross and can you get accepted?
Holy Cross is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 2,786 out of the 6,498 who applied were admitted.
The school has very high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 16 percent on standardized admission tests. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 29% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Can you get into Holy Cross?
43% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to College of the Holy Cross you should:
- Score 1330 on the SAT
- Score 30 on the ACT
- Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class
- Submit letters of recommendation from your teachers
Holy Cross GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
College of the Holy Cross has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
Holy Cross SAT Scores
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to College of the Holy Cross. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 40% of students submitted SAT scores and 19% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | 630 |
| Math 25th Percentile | 610 |
| Composite 25th Percentile | 1240 |
| SAT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | 710 |
| Math 75th Percentile | 710 |
| Composite 75th Percentile | 1420 |
| Average SAT Score | 1330
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to College of the Holy Cross?
Average Score & Range
The average SAT score at Holy Cross is 1330 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1240-1420. Students who get into College of the Holy Cross score in the top 19 percent of all SAT test takers.. Holy Cross ranks #15 in the state of Massachusetts and #126 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.
Score for Acceptance
You should target scoring 1330 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Holy Cross regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1240 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1240, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1150, but scores this low are outside the normal range.
Score Submission Requirements
College of the Holy Cross is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "considered but not required".
View other colleges which accept students in the 1330 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1330, you have around a 43% chance of being admitted. A 1420 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 59% chance of getting in.
Holy Cross ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | 27 |
| Math 25th Percentile | 25 |
| Composite 25th Percentile | 28 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | 34 |
| Math 75th Percentile | 31 |
| Composite 75th Percentile | 32 |
| Average ACT Score | 30
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Holy Cross?
Score Range
The average ACT score for admitted students to Holy Cross is 30, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 28 and 32. The school ranks #16 in Massachusetts and #108 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.
Score for Acceptance
For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 30. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 28 and score in the score in the top 12 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 26.
19 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to College of the Holy Cross.
Score Submission Requirements
You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as College of the Holy Cross is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "considered but not required".
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classChance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Here are your predicted chances of getting into Holy Cross for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 30 score has around 43% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 59% with a 32 ACT score.
High School Class Rank
80% of College of the Holy Cross freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 43% are in the top ten percent.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 43% |
| Top 25% of class | 80% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 3,518 | 2,980 | 6,498 |
| Accepted | 1,540 | 1,246 | 2,786 |
| Acceptance Rate | 44% | 42% | 43% |
| Enrolled | 441 | 380 | 821 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 29% | 30% | 29% |
Fall 2024 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 109 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 15, 2024.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to College of the Holy Cross is $60.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to College of the Holy Cross and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to College of the Holy Cross often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=166124 IPEDS survey data for College of the Holy Cross.
FAQs
Does College of the Holy Cross prefer SAT or ACT?
40% of students submit their SAT scores to Holy Cross. 19% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into College of the Holy Cross?
43% of those who apply are granted admission to Holy Cross. Admission competition is low and the college has very high admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for College of the Holy Cross?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1240 and 1420. The average SAT score is 1330. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for College of the Holy Cross?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 28 and 32. The average ACT score is 30. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.