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#9 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

Holy Cross Admission Requirements

Worcester, Massachusetts

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Your chances of getting into College of the Holy Cross

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

42.9%
Admission Difficulty for College of the Holy Cross
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Very High 
Applicant Competition Average 

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.

Calculate My Chances 

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 Range 

1240-1420

Applicants Submitting SAT 

40%
SAT Scores for College of the Holy Cross
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 630
Math 25th Percentile 610
Composite 25th Percentile 1240
SAT Scores for College of the Holy Cross
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 class

Chance 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.

College of the Holy Cross admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1420 and Above Good >59%
1330 to 1420 Avg + 43%-59%
1240 to 1330 Avg - 28%-43%
1150 to 1240 Reach 17%-28%
Less than 1150 Low <17%
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Holy Cross ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

28-32 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

19%
ACT Scores for College of the Holy Cross
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 27
Math 25th Percentile 25
Composite 25th Percentile 28
ACT Scores for College of the Holy Cross
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 class

Chance 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.

College of the Holy Cross admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
32 and Above Good >59%
30 to 32 Avg + 43%-59%
28 to 30 Avg - 28%-43%
26 to 28 Reach 17%-28%
Less than 26 Low <17%
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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 for admitted College of the Holy Cross students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 43%
Top 25% of class 80%
Top 50% of class 98%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

College of the Holy Cross admission statistics
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%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2024

Days left to Apply

109

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?

College of the Holy Cross Application Requirements
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

High School Credits Accepted at College of the Holy Cross
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.