Holy Cross vs. NYU

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross and New York University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of the Holy Cross
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Holy Cross No
  • NYU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Holy Cross No
  • NYU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Holy Cross No
  • NYU No

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with New York University in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; New York University 8:1.

Holy Cross vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or NYU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New York University than Holy Cross ($30,325 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 20% lower than at New York University ($18,820 vs. $23,530).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $1,704 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Holy Cross than at New York University (about $1,704 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than at New York University (57% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 21.6% larger than aid received by College of the Holy Cross students ($53,901 vs. $44,334).

Holy Cross vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or NYU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NYU and Holy Cross.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 190 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (17.6%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Holy Cross vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and NYU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($240 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.