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Harvard Yale Barnard Princeton Cornell Villanova UChicago BC NYU Providence Stanford Fordham| College of the Holy Cross | Columbia University in the City of New York | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
| Location | Worcester, MA | New York, NY | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,035 | 35,279 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #81 | #22 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | holycross.edu | columbia.edu | ||
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Costs |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,050 | $65,340 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,050 | $65,340 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,750 | $16,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $35,455 | $20,869 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $41,140 | $65,173 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 52% |
Admission |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,670 | 57,613 | ||
| Admitted | 1,829 | 2,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.1% | 4.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45% | 63.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.91 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 34/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1420 | 1490/1570 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 6:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 93% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $80,400 | $107,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $222 |
Diversity |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 42% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 38% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 15% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
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| % In-State | 35% | 19% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 64% | ||
Campus |
Holy Cross | Columbia | ||
| 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
- Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (35,279 students vs. 3,035 students)
Holy Cross vs. Columbia Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Columbia?
- Columbia University in the City of New York is 8.8% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $60,050.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at Columbia than College of the Holy Cross ($65,340.00 vs. $60,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Holy Cross ($20,869 vs. $35,455)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 5.7% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($16,800 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Columbia University in the City of New York (58% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 58.4% larger than aid received College of the Holy Cross ($65,173 vs. $41,140)
Holy Cross vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or Columbia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia or Holy Cross .
- Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (21.1%) than Columbia (4.2%)
Holy Cross vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Holy Cross or Columbia? 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 Columbia and Holy Cross.
- The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than College of the Holy Cross (93% vs. 91%)
- Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $27,200 more per year than Holy Cross graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $80,400)
- Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
- Columbia graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($222 vs. $284)
- More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/