Private not-for-profit

Medium

Patriot League

College of the Holy Cross SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range1250 to 1410

ACT Range27 to 32

Average GPAN/A

Acceptance Rate17.6%

Holy Cross is test-optional, but with a 17.6% admit rate and 30% submitting SAT scores, a strong score can still give you a clearer edge. Aim for the upper half of the SAT range, around 1330 to 1410, or a 30 to 32 ACT, to be competitive.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

College of the Holy Cross facts and stats

Quick Facts

College of the Holy Cross enrolls 3,107 undergraduates in an urban campus setting. Holy Cross has a 95% freshman retention rate, well above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 87%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1.

Location

Worcester, MA

Undergrad Enrollment3,107

Freshman Retention95%

SettingUrban

Student to Faculty Ratio9:1

Graduation Rate87%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Holy Cross?

SAT score card showing a 1520 score with an unlocked lock

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Key College of the Holy Cross application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

January 15

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

November 15

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

January 15

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Holy Cross, take your first SAT or ACT by the spring of junior year. Use the summer before senior year and fall for retakes that may strengthen a superscore, with October as the last practical sitting for scores to arrive before the November 15 Early Decision deadline.

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What you'll actually pay

Tuition and Fees$64,500

Room and Board$18,820

Average Merit Award$24,796

Application Fee$60

Students on Aid33%

Average Aid Package$5,139

Average Debt at Grad$22,290

College of the Holy Cross lists a total cost of attendance of about $83,320, including $64,500 in tuition and fees and $18,820 for room and board. About 33% of students receive aid, with an average aid package of $5,139. Merit awards average $24,796 for students who receive them. Graduates leave with an average debt of $22,290.