How to Get Into Holy Cross: Acceptance Rate & Strategies
College of the Holy Cross admissions: introduction
Are you considering applying to Holy Cross? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, about 7,000 students applied.
Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates for each round of applications, the GPA and standardized test scores that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.
It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the Holy Cross admissions process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.
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Bottom line up front
In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:
Overall acceptance rate: 36%
Regular-decision acceptance rate: 33%
Early-decision acceptance rate: 81%
Transfer acceptance rate: 10%
SAT composite: 1270-1420
SAT EBRW: 640-720
SAT Math: 620-710
ACT composite: 28-32
ACT Math: 25-30
ACT English: 28-34
How hard is it to get admitted to Holy Cross?
Medium tough. The college is moderately selective. The overall acceptance rate is about 36%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, early and regular decision rounds, and transfer applicants.
Holy Cross admissions statistics
For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 36%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 38%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was 35%. Those acceptance rates include all rounds of admission, early and regular.
Holy Cross regular decision acceptance rate
Excluding applicants who applied in the two early-decision rounds, the regular decision acceptance rate was 33%.
Holy Cross early decision acceptance rate
The early decision acceptance rate was 81%! Applying early decision means you commit to attend that college if admitted. Many colleges, including Holy Cross, let in early-decision applicants at higher rates because they want to let in applicants who will go on to enroll.
The proportion of admitted applicants who go on to enroll is called "yield," and colleges try to boost it. Crucially, a higher yield number means colleges will tend to pay less to borrow money. You can see why early-decision applicants get a leg-up!
Holy Cross transfer acceptance rate
For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall transfer acceptance rate was 10%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 6%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 13%.
How hard is it to get off the waitlist at Holy Cross?
Here at Clarke College Insight, we advise students to consider getting off the waitlist in the same way they might think of winning the lottery. It would be nice if it happened, but it isn't something to count on.
The waitlist admission statistics at Holy Cross demonstrate the wisdom of this advice. Of the applicants who accepted places on the waitlist, 0.1% were admitted. Only one student out of 989!
What is a good GPA for Holy Cross?
Holy Cross does not publish its average GPA for the incoming class, but it does provide class rank information for the incoming freshman class:
Percent in top 10% of high school class: 43%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 75%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 98%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 2%
If you’re in the top quarter of your class, Holy Cross is probably a good option. If you're in the lower half of your class, it's probably prudent to leave Holy Cross off your list. In between the top quarter and the bottom half? Let’s talk about it.
What is a good SAT/ACT score for Holy Cross?
Comparing your SAT or ACT scores against those of the "middle 50" of colleges you're interested is a crucial step in deciding whether it's worth your time to apply. The middle 50 gives us more information than average scores do.
What is the middle 50? In statistics, another term for this range is the interquartile range: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. That may sound intimidating, but it's an easy concept to grasp once someone explains it to you.
The middle 50 range for test scores tells us what the middle half of freshmen Holy Cross students got on the test. That means a quarter of enrolled students got lower scores, and a quarter got higher scores.
Here are the middle 50 ranges for Holy Cross.
SAT composite: 1270-1420
SAT EBRW: 640-720
SAT Math: 620-710
ACT composite: 28-32
ACT Math: 25-30
ACT English: 28-34
If your scores are in that range, Holy Cross could be a good option for you. If your test scores fall below those ranges, it's probably best not to put Holy Cross on your list, unless you're a recruited athlete or related to a major donor.
Tips for applying to Holy Cross
To get into Holy Cross, you need to meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants.
Aim to have an appealing high school transcript ready before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason, and get good grades in them. Your transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Send in ACT or SAT scores! Even at test-optional colleges like Holy Cross, score-submitters generally get in at higher rates. To find out the evidence-based way to achieve the highest score possible on standardized tests--with minimal stress and hassle and without taking time and attention away from schoolwork--take my online class.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND admissions officers will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like Holy Cross in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.
If your family can afford to pay full tuition, and you love Holy Cross, consider applying early decision. You’ll face much better odds (81%!) If you need to consider financial aid offers before picking a college, it may be more prudent to wait until the regular decision round.
For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!
