- Acceptance rate: 18% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 630–710 reading and writing, 610–700 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 27–32 composite
- Average net price: $35,455 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what College of the Holy Cross reported: an acceptance rate of 18% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 27–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. College of the Holy Cross reviews each application.
College of the Holy Cross GPA requirements
College of the Holy Cross doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and College of the Holy Cross hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
College of the Holy Cross acceptance rate
College of the Holy Cross admitted 1,685 of 9,568 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 18%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
College of the Holy Cross is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Worcester, Massachusetts, with 3,126 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered College of the Holy Cross in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 630 | 670 | 710 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 670 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 30 | 32 |
| ACT English | 25 | 31 | 34 |
| ACT Math | 25 | 27 | 29 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1353 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What College of the Holy Cross looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
AP credit
College of the Holy Cross awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $35,455 a year at College of the Holy Cross in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into the College of the Holy Cross?
Highly selective: fewer than 1 in 4 applicants got in. College of the Holy Cross admitted 18% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do the College of the Holy Cross students have?
The middle 50% of College of the Holy Cross' fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 630–710 in reading and writing and 610–700 in math; ACT composite 27–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does the College of the Holy Cross require the SAT or ACT?
No. College of the Holy Cross is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 30% sent SAT scores and 15% sent ACT scores.
What GPA do you need to get into the College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How many applicants get into the College of the Holy Cross?
College of the Holy Cross' acceptance rate was 18% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,685 of 9,568 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
How important is GPA for getting into the College of the Holy Cross?
It's one factor among several: College of the Holy Cross requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do I have a chance at the College of the Holy Cross with a 3.5 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. College of the Holy Cross admitted 18% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does the College of the Holy Cross look at legacy status?
Yes. College of the Holy Cross considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What is the average net price at the College of the Holy Cross?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $35,455 a year at College of the Holy Cross in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does the College of the Holy Cross give credit for AP exams?
Yes. College of the Holy Cross awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check the College of the Holy Cross' official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: College of the Holy CrossU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
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