Holy Cross vs. Columbia

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross or Columbia 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. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
College of the Holy Cross Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

Holy Cross Columbia
Location Worcester, MA New York, NY
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 3,083 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #86 #22
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross Columbia
Tuition (In State) $57,600 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $57,600 $62,570
Room & Board $16,620 $16,286
Avg Net Price $34,679 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $39,615 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 52%

Admission

Holy Cross Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,036 60,879
Admitted 2,558 2,404
Acceptance Rate 36.4% 3.9%
Enrolled % 35.3% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.91
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition High Extreme
ACT Range 28/32 34/35
SAT Range 1260/1430 1490/1580
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 1, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

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 45% 46%
% Women 55% 54%
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
% 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 (34,782 students vs. 3,083 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 8.6% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.6% higher at Columbia than College of the Holy Cross ($62,570.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • 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 ($22,058 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 2.1% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($16,286 vs. $16,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Columbia University in the City of New York (60% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 54.1% larger than aid received College of the Holy Cross ($61,061 vs. $39,615)

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 (36.4%) than Columbia (3.9%)

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/