Holy Cross College vs. Elms College

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

Holy Cross College Elms College
Location Notre Dame, IN Chicopee, MA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 547 1,332
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #374
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu elms.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College Elms College
Tuition (In State) $34,100 $40,095
Tuition (Out of State) $34,100 $40,095
Room & Board $12,300 $15,150
Avg Net Price $24,214 $22,311
Avg Grant Aid $24,582 $31,015
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 100%

Admission

Holy Cross College Elms College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,670 1,442
Admitted 1,231 1,264
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 87.7%
Enrolled % 20.3% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31
SAT Range 980/1300 1150/1320
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 Jul 28, 2026

Academics

Holy Cross College Elms College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College Elms College
Graduation Rate 13% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $239 $258

Diversity

Holy Cross College Elms College
% Men 0% 4%
% Women 2% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 65% 56%
% Black 11% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 24%

Students

Holy Cross College Elms College
% In-State 35% 71%
% Out-of-State 61% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than than Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (1,332 students vs. 547 students)

Holy Cross College vs. Elms College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross College or Elms College?

  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is 17.6% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross College for in-state tuition ($40,095.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.6% higher at Elms College than Holy Cross College ($40,095.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Holy Cross College ($22,311 vs. $24,214)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Holy Cross College are 23.2% lower than costs at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($12,300 vs. $15,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Holy Cross College (100% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 26.2% larger than aid received Holy Cross College ($31,015 vs. $24,582)

Holy Cross College vs. Elms College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Holy Cross College (984) is 8 points higher than at Elms College (976)
  • Incoming Holy Cross College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Elms College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Elms College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Holy Cross College (73.7%)

Holy Cross College vs. Elms College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross College or Elms College? 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 Elms College and Holy Cross College.

  • The graduation rate at Elms College is higher than Holy Cross College (58% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn on average $2,500 more per year than Holy Cross College graduates after ten years. ($46,300 vs. $43,800)
  • Holy Cross College students graduate with a $1,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Elms College graduates. ($23,125 vs. $25,000)
  • Holy Cross College graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Elms College graduates. ($239 vs. $258)
  • More Holy Cross College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 61%)

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