Holy Cross vs. Rutgers

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (52,269 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); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Holy Cross vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Holy Cross ($20,522 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 16.5% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($15,714 vs. $18,820).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 259.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $46,571 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.3% higher at Holy Cross than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $27,059 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (57% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 164.8% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($44,334 vs. $16,742).

Holy Cross vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 80 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Holy Cross vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $5,285 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($229 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

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.