Holy Cross Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Holy Cross is 21.1%.  Its admission rate is the 12th lowest in Massachusetts and the 78th lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Holy Cross and can you get accepted?

Holy Cross is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 1,829 out of the 8,670 who applied were admitted.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 45% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Holy Cross?

21% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to College of the Holy Cross you should:

• Score 1340 on the SAT
• Score 30 on the ACT
• Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

College of the Holy Cross has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to College of the Holy Cross. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 35% of students submitted SAT scores and 19% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to College of the Holy Cross?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Holy Cross is 1340 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1250-1420. Students who get into College of the Holy Cross score in the top 18 percent of all SAT test takers..  Holy Cross ranks #16 in the state of Massachusetts and #144 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1340 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Holy Cross regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1250 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1250, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1160, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

College of the Holy Cross is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1340 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1335, you have around a 21% chance of being admitted. A 1420 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 34% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Holy Cross?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Holy Cross is 30, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 28 and 32.  The school ranks #20 in Massachusetts and #124 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 30. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 28 and score in the score in the top 12 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 26.

19 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to College of the Holy Cross.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as College of the Holy Cross is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Holy Cross for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 30 score has around 21% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 34% with a 32 ACT score.

High School Class Rank

80% of College of the Holy Cross freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 43% are in the top ten percent.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to College of the Holy Cross is $60.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to College of the Holy Cross and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted