Holy Cross College vs. Duquesne University

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

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
Location Notre Dame, IN Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 547 8,137
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #191
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu duq.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
Tuition (In State) $34,100 $47,146
Tuition (Out of State) $34,100 $47,146
Room & Board $12,300 $15,620
Avg Net Price $24,214 $35,125
Avg Grant Aid $24,582 $27,980
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 100%

Admission

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,670 14,112
Admitted 1,231 11,128
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 78.9%
Enrolled % 20.3% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.8
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 26/31
SAT Range 980/1300 1160/1350
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 15, 2025

Academics

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
Graduation Rate 13% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $65,100
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $239 $279

Diversity

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
% Men 0% 13%
% Women 2% 23%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 81%
% Black 11% 5%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
% In-State 35% 70%
% Out-of-State 61% 27%

Campus

Holy Cross College Duquesne University
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

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 547 students)

Holy Cross College vs. Duquesne University Cost Comparison

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

  • Duquesne University is 38.3% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross College for in-state tuition ($47,146.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.3% higher at Duquesne University than Holy Cross College ($47,146.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Holy Cross College than Duquesne University ($24,214 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Holy Cross College are 27% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($12,300 vs. $15,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Holy Cross College (100% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 13.8% larger than aid received Holy Cross College ($27,980 vs. $24,582)

Holy Cross College vs. Duquesne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 154 points higher than at Holy Cross College (984)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Holy Cross College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Holy Cross College (73.7%)

Holy Cross College vs. Duquesne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross College or Duquesne 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 Duquesne University and Holy Cross College.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Holy Cross College (73% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $21,300 more per year than Holy Cross College graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $43,800)
  • Holy Cross College students graduate with a $3,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($23,125 vs. $27,000)
  • Holy Cross College graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($239 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 64%)

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