Holy Cross vs. Elms College

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or College of Our Lady of the Elms? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross or Elms College 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.

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College of the Holy Cross vs. College of Our Lady of the Elms comparison
College of the Holy Cross College of Our Lady of the Elms College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross College of Our Lady of the Elms
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Overview

Holy Cross Elms College
Location Worcester, MA Chicopee, MA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,083 1,275
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #86 #401
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu elms.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross Elms College
Tuition (In State) $57,600 $38,735
Tuition (Out of State) $57,600 $38,735
Room & Board $16,620 $14,830
Avg Net Price $34,679 $23,498
Avg Grant Aid $39,615 $27,109
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 98%

Admission

Holy Cross Elms College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,036 1,177
Admitted 2,558 1,070
Acceptance Rate 36.4% 90.9%
Enrolled % 35.3% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.42
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 28/32
SAT Range 1260/1430 1070/1300
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

Academics

Holy Cross Elms College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross Elms College
Graduation Rate 91% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,400 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $258

Diversity

Holy Cross Elms College
% Men 45% 25%
% Women 55% 75%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 56%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 24%

Students

Holy Cross Elms College
% In-State 35% 72%
% Out-of-State 61% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of the Holy Cross is larger than than Elms College based on total student enrollment (3,083 students vs. 1,275 students)

Holy Cross vs. Elms College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Elms College?

  • College of the Holy Cross is 48.7% more expensive to attend than Elms College for in-state tuition ($57,600.00 vs. $38,735.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.7% higher at Holy Cross than College of Our Lady of the Elms ($57,600.00 vs. $38,735.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Holy Cross ($23,498 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 12.1% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($14,830 vs. $16,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than College of the Holy Cross (98% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 46.1% larger than aid received College of Our Lady of the Elms ($39,615 vs. $27,109)

Holy Cross vs. Elms College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than Holy Cross (36.4%)

Holy Cross vs. Elms College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross or Elms College? 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 Elms College and Holy Cross.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms (91% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $34,100 more per year than Elms College graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $46,300)
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Elms College graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($258 vs. $284)
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 61%)

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