Holy Cross College vs. DeSales University

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

Holy Cross College DeSales University
Location Notre Dame, IN Center Valley, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 547 2,919
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #295
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu desales.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College DeSales University
Tuition (In State) $34,100 $43,000
Tuition (Out of State) $34,100 $43,000
Room & Board $12,300 $13,800
Avg Net Price $24,214 $30,524
Avg Grant Aid $24,582 $28,789
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 100%

Admission

Holy Cross College DeSales University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,670 3,636
Admitted 1,231 2,857
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 78.6%
Enrolled % 20.3% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.39
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 24/28
SAT Range 980/1300 1090/1290
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, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross College DeSales University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College DeSales University
Graduation Rate 13% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $239 $268

Diversity

Holy Cross College DeSales University
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 2% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 75%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

Holy Cross College DeSales University
% In-State 35% 66%
% Out-of-State 61% 34%

Campus

Holy Cross College DeSales University
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

  • DeSales University is larger than than Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (2,919 students vs. 547 students)

Holy Cross College vs. DeSales University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross College or DeSales University?

  • DeSales University is 26.1% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross College for in-state tuition ($43,000.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.1% higher at DeSales University than Holy Cross College ($43,000.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Holy Cross College than DeSales University ($24,214 vs. $30,524)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Holy Cross College are 12.2% lower than costs at DeSales University ($12,300 vs. $13,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at DeSales University than Holy Cross College (100% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DeSales University students is 17.1% larger than aid received Holy Cross College ($28,789 vs. $24,582)

Holy Cross College vs. DeSales University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at DeSales University (1054) is 70 points higher than at Holy Cross College (984)
  • Incoming DeSales University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Holy Cross College (22)
  • Accepted freshman DeSales University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • DeSales University has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than Holy Cross College (73.7%)

Holy Cross College vs. DeSales University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross College or DeSales University? 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 DeSales University and Holy Cross College.

  • The graduation rate at DeSales University is higher than Holy Cross College (69% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from DeSales University earn on average $7,300 more per year than Holy Cross College graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $43,800)
  • Holy Cross College students graduate with a $2,875 lower median federal student loan debt than DeSales University graduates. ($23,125 vs. $26,000)
  • Holy Cross College graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than DeSales University graduates. ($239 vs. $268)
  • More DeSales University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 64%)

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