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TCU Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Villanova Texas A&M Tulane BC Providence Rice Trinity Fordham| College of the Holy Cross | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
| Location | Worcester, MA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,035 | 11,842 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #81 | #71 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | holycross.edu | smu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,050 | $57,212 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,050 | $57,212 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,750 | $18,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $35,455 | $45,792 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $41,140 | $36,850 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 69% |
Admission |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,670 | 15,092 | ||
| Admitted | 1,829 | 9,240 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.1% | 61.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45% | 17.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1420 | 1320/1480 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $80,400 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $222 |
Diversity |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 55% | ||
Campus |
Holy Cross | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 3,035 students)
Holy Cross vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or SMU?
- College of the Holy Cross is 5% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($60,050.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5% higher at Holy Cross than Southern Methodist University ($60,050.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Holy Cross than SMU ($35,455 vs. $45,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 2.7% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($17,750 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than College of the Holy Cross (69% vs. 58%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 11.6% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($41,140 vs. $36,850)
Holy Cross vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Holy Cross .
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than Holy Cross (21.1%)
Holy Cross vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Holy Cross or SMU? 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 SMU and Holy Cross.
- The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than Southern Methodist University (91% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $7,400 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $73,000)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
- SMU 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 SMU 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/