Harvard vs. Holy Cross

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

Harvard Holy Cross
Location Cambridge, MA Worcester, MA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,631 3,083
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #86
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu holycross.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard Holy Cross
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $57,600
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $57,600
Room & Board $19,502 $16,620
Avg Net Price $19,491 $34,679
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $39,615
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 60%

Admission

Harvard Holy Cross
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 7,036
Admitted 1,984 2,558
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 36.4%
Enrolled % 83% 35.3%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 -
Typical High School Grades A/A+ -
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 34/36 28/32
SAT Range 1490/1580 1260/1430
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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Harvard Holy Cross
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)

Outcomes

Harvard Holy Cross
Graduation Rate 97% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $80,400
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $67 $284

Diversity

Harvard Holy Cross
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 44% 70%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 11% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Harvard Holy Cross
% In-State 15% 35%
% Out-of-State 69% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 3,083 students)

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Holy Cross?

  • College of the Holy Cross is 9.4% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($57,600.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.4% higher at Holy Cross than Harvard University ($57,600.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Holy Cross ($19,491 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 17.3% lower than costs at Harvard University ($16,620 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Harvard University (60% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 56% larger than aid received College of the Holy Cross ($61,801 vs. $39,615)

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (36.4%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than College of the Holy Cross (97% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $56,300 more per year than Holy Cross graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $80,400)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $21,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($6,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $217 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($67 vs. $284)
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/