Holy Cross vs. Bucknell

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or Bucknell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross or Bucknell is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Lafayette College Lehigh Villanova University of Richmond Colgate BC Providence Fordham Denison Trinity College Fairfield University Skidmore College
College of the Holy Cross vs. Bucknell University comparison
College of the Holy Cross Bucknell University College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross Bucknell University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Holy Cross Bucknell
Location Worcester, MA Lewisburg, PA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,083 3,787
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #86 #71
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $57,600 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $57,600 $61,408
Room & Board $16,620 $15,358
Avg Net Price $34,679 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $39,615 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 56%

Admission

Holy Cross Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,036 11,707
Admitted 2,558 3,811
Acceptance Rate 36.4% 32.6%
Enrolled % 35.3% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.62
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High High
ACT Range 28/32 30/33
SAT Range 1260/1430 1310/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross Bucknell
Graduation Rate 91% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,400 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $279

Diversity

Holy Cross Bucknell
% Men 45% 48%
% Women 55% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 77%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

Holy Cross Bucknell
% In-State 35% 21%
% Out-of-State 61% 74%

Campus

Holy Cross Bucknell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bucknell University is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (3,787 students vs. 3,083 students)

Holy Cross vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at Bucknell than College of the Holy Cross ($61,408.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Holy Cross than Bucknell ($34,679 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 8.2% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($15,358 vs. $16,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Bucknell University (60% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 4.9% larger than aid received Bucknell University ($39,615 vs. $37,775)

Holy Cross vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or Bucknell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bucknell or Holy Cross .

  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (36.4%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

Holy Cross vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross or Bucknell? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bucknell and Holy Cross.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is the same as at Bucknell University (91% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $4,100 more per year than Bucknell graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $76,300)
  • Bucknell University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Bucknell graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/