Holy Cross vs. UMass

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or University of Massachusetts Amherst? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross or UMass 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. University of Massachusetts Amherst comparison
College of the Holy Cross University of Massachusetts Amherst College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Overview

Holy Cross UMass
Location Worcester, MA Amherst, MA
Setting Midsize City Town Fringe
Enrollment 3,035 31,810
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #81 #176
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu umass.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross UMass
Tuition (In State) $60,050 $16,591
Tuition (Out of State) $60,050 $38,527
Room & Board $17,750 $14,869
Avg Net Price $35,455 $22,954
Avg Grant Aid $41,140 $12,343
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 75%

Admission

Holy Cross UMass
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,670 50,424
Admitted 1,829 29,129
Acceptance Rate 21.1% 57.8%
Enrolled % 45% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.99
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 28/32 29/33
SAT Range 1250/1420 1300/1480
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross UMass
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross UMass
Graduation Rate 91% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,400 $55,200
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $248

Diversity

Holy Cross UMass
% Men 0% 12%
% Women 0% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 70% 67%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

Holy Cross UMass
% In-State 35% 67%
% Out-of-State 61% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 3,035 students)

Holy Cross vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or UMass?

  • College of the Holy Cross is 261.9% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($60,050.00 vs. $16,591.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.9% higher at Holy Cross than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($60,050.00 vs. $38,527.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Holy Cross ($22,954 vs. $35,455)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 19.4% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($14,869 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than College of the Holy Cross (75% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 233.3% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($41,140 vs. $12,343)

Holy Cross vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (57.8%) than Holy Cross (21.1%)

Holy Cross vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross or UMass? 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 UMass and Holy Cross.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (91% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $25,200 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $55,200)
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,500)
  • UMass graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($248 vs. $284)
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass 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/