Holy Cross College vs. PLU

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

Holy Cross College PLU
Location Notre Dame, IN Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 434 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #311
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College PLU
Tuition (In State) $33,500 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $33,500 $49,472
Room & Board $12,000 $11,826
Avg Net Price $22,650 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $24,381 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 99%

Admission

Holy Cross College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 944 3,334
Admitted 719 2,964
Acceptance Rate 76.2% 88.9%
Enrolled % 28.2% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.71
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/30
SAT Range 1203/1373 1253/1423
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 PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College PLU
Graduation Rate 13% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $239 $266

Diversity

Holy Cross College PLU
% Men 57% 36%
% Women 43% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 65% 68%
% Black 11% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Holy Cross College PLU
% In-State 35% 74%
% Out-of-State 61% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 434 students)

Holy Cross College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

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

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 47.7% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $33,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.7% higher at PLU than Holy Cross College ($49,472.00 vs. $33,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Holy Cross College than PLU ($22,650 vs. $24,825)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 1.5% lower than costs at Holy Cross College ($11,826 vs. $12,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Holy Cross College (99% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 49.4% larger than aid received Holy Cross College ($36,435 vs. $24,381)

Holy Cross College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 133 points higher than at Holy Cross College (984)
  • Incoming PLU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Holy Cross College (22)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Holy Cross College (76.2%)

Holy Cross College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Holy Cross College (66% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $8,500 more per year than Holy Cross College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $43,800)
  • Holy Cross College students graduate with a $2,675 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,125 vs. $25,800)
  • Holy Cross College graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($239 vs. $266)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 64%)

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