Holy Cross vs. RIC

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross and Rhode Island College? 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
Rhode Island College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (6,155 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); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

Holy Cross vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or RIC? 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 Rhode Island College than Holy Cross ($10,346 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 28.7% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($13,414 vs. $18,820).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 470.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $53,200 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 136.3% higher at Holy Cross than at Rhode Island College (about $37,201 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at College of the Holy Cross (95% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 561.1% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($44,334 vs. $6,706).

Holy Cross vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or RIC? 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 RIC and Holy Cross.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Holy Cross (1330) is 330 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 23.1% at RIC.

Holy Cross vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and RIC? 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 Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $38,400 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $6,300 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($21,200 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($219 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 59%)

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.