BU vs. Holy Cross

Deciding between Boston University and College of the Holy Cross? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
College of the Holy Cross

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Holy Cross #79
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Holy Cross

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Holy Cross 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Holy Cross 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Holy Cross -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Holy Cross -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Holy Cross $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Holy Cross Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Holy Cross No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Holy Cross 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Holy Cross 60%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Holy Cross No
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Holy Cross No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Holy Cross No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); College of the Holy Cross is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; College of the Holy Cross 9:1.

BU vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Holy Cross? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Holy Cross ($24,420 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 1.1% lower than at Boston University ($18,820 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Holy Cross (about $3,602 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at BU than at College of the Holy Cross (about $3,602 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than at Boston University (57% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 39.5% larger than aid received by College of the Holy Cross students ($61,848 vs. $44,334).

BU vs. Holy Cross Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Holy Cross? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Holy Cross and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 150 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming BU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Holy Cross - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (17.6%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 49.6% at Holy Cross.

BU vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Holy Cross? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, BU graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($279 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.