Holy Cross vs. F&M

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or Franklin and Marshall College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross or F&M 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. Franklin and Marshall College comparison
College of the Holy Cross Franklin and Marshall College College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross Franklin and Marshall College
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Overview

Holy Cross F&M
Location Worcester, MA Lancaster, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 3,083 1,990
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #86 #56
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu fandm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross F&M
Tuition (In State) $57,600 $65,652
Tuition (Out of State) $57,600 $65,652
Room & Board $16,620 $15,040
Avg Net Price $34,679 $31,135
Avg Grant Aid $39,615 $49,177
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 63%

Admission

Holy Cross F&M
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,036 8,923
Admitted 2,558 3,233
Acceptance Rate 36.4% 36.2%
Enrolled % 35.3% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High High
ACT Range 28/32 30/33
SAT Range 1260/1430 1310/1440
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 F&M
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 (29%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross F&M
Graduation Rate 91% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,400 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $227

Diversity

Holy Cross F&M
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 59%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 14%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Holy Cross F&M
% In-State 35% 25%
% Out-of-State 61% 53%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of the Holy Cross is larger than than F&M based on total student enrollment (3,083 students vs. 1,990 students)

Holy Cross vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or F&M?

  • Franklin and Marshall College is 14% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross for in-state tuition ($65,652.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14% higher at F&M than College of the Holy Cross ($65,652.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Franklin and Marshall College than Holy Cross ($31,135 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 10.5% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($15,040 vs. $16,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than College of the Holy Cross (63% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 24.1% larger than aid received College of the Holy Cross ($49,177 vs. $39,615)

Holy Cross vs. F&M Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (36.4%) than F&M (36.2%)

Holy Cross vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross or F&M? 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 F&M and Holy Cross.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than Franklin and Marshall College (91% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $18,500 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $61,900)
  • Franklin and Marshall College students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,500)
  • F&M graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($227 vs. $284)
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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