HighSchoolOS How to Get Into College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data
College of the Holy Cross Admissions Statistics
How to Actually Get Into College of the Holy Cross
Understand what 17.6% really means
At College of the Holy Cross's admit rate, your position against the published ranges genuinely matters. Land above the middle 50% and this behaves like a target; inside it, a true toss-up worth real effort on essays and fit signals; below it, treat it as a reach. Place it on your list accordingly instead of trusting the headline rate.
Position your scores against the real bands
The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1240-1410 combined SAT or 27-32 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.
Use the Early Decision round deliberately
College of the Holy Cross offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is College of the Holy Cross, the deadline table below is your calendar.
The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where College of the Holy Cross fits.
College of the Holy Cross Application Deadlines (2025-2026)
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision (ED) | November 15, 2025 |
| Early Decision II (ED II) | January 15, 2026 |
| Regular Decision (RD) | January 15, 2026 |
Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.
Application Requirements & Costs
| Application platform | Common App |
| Application fee | $60 |
| Test scores | Not required (test-optional) |
| Writing supplement | Not required |
| Counselor recommendation | Required |
| Teacher evaluations | 1 |
College of the Holy Cross Cost & Financial Aid
| Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) | $80,334 |
| Tuition & fees | $64,500 |
| Room & board (on campus) | $18,820 |
| Average net price (aid-receiving families) | $38,782 |
What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income
Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0-30k | $14,343 |
| $30-48k | $16,179 |
| $48-75k | $12,682 |
| $75-110k | $27,711 |
| $110k+ | $56,284 |
These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:
Use College of the Holy Cross's Official Net Price Calculator →More College of the Holy Cross Data, Coming Soon
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