College of the Holy Cross

About College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross is an independent undergraduate college whose institutional identity combines liberal arts study with a Jesuit Catholic mission. It was founded in Worcester in 1843 by Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J., the second bishop of Boston. The College describes intellectual inquiry, ethical reflection, service and attention to the whole person as connected parts of its educational approach. Students do not have to be Catholic, but religion, philosophy and questions of meaning are visible in the curriculum and campus culture. The New England Commission of Higher Education lists Holy Cross as a current member, with bachelor’s degrees in its accredited scope and its next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for spring 2030. This confirms that the record represents an operating degree-granting institution rather than a department or training provider. Holy Cross is exclusively undergraduate: the current catalog identifies the Bachelor of Arts as its degree. The experience is designed around a compact college community rather than a large research-university structure. Students encounter faculty across classrooms, laboratories, studios and performance spaces, while internships, study abroad, the Washington Semester and community-based learning can extend study beyond campus. The Jesuit framework is a meaningful element of institutional life, so applicants should consider whether an environment that explicitly connects intellectual, moral and spiritual development fits their preferences. At the same time, the liberal arts curriculum spans humanities, arts, social sciences, languages, mathematics and natural sciences rather than focusing narrowly on religious study.

Holy Cross admits first-year students through binding Early Decision I and II and non-binding Regular Decision; it does not offer Early Action. The currently published deadlines are November 15 for Early Decision I and January 15 for both Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Because the admissions page does not label these dates with a specific entering class, applicants should verify them in the application portal before relying on them for a later cycle. Applicants submit either the Common Application or Coalition Application. The published checklist requires a teacher recommendation and a school counselor recommendation, along with the other school and application materials requested through the selected platform. The application fee is $65, with several institutional and platform-based waiver routes. Early Decision applicants must complete the binding agreement. SAT and ACT scores are optional, and the College states that applicants who omit them are not disadvantaged. Interviews are not required but are strongly recommended; the site publishes separate interview timing for each decision plan. International candidates use the same decision deadlines. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL or IELTS results, while all international applicants must provide the College’s certification of finances and supporting financial documentation. International applicants seeking aid should recognize that Holy Cross describes its limited funding as highly competitive. Transfer applications have separate fall and spring processes, with published deadlines of April 1 and November 1 respectively.

The 2026–2027 catalog defines a Bachelor of Arts curriculum requiring at least 32 semester courses and eight semesters of full-time study. Each student completes common requirements, a major and elected courses. The common curriculum covers arts, literature, religious studies, philosophy, history, cross-cultural study, languages, social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences. This structure gives students broad exposure while preserving room for specialization. Current academic plans include fields such as accounting, anthropology, architectural studies, Asian studies, biology, chemistry, classics, computer science, economics, English, environmental studies, history, international studies, mathematics, music, neuroscience, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, statistics and data science, studio art and theatre. Students may also pursue approved student-designed multidisciplinary programs. Applicants should consult the catalog rather than the database program list: several stored labels, including nursing, finance, marketing and business administration, do not appear as standalone majors in the current catalog. Students may combine up to three majors, minors and concentrations, with no more than two majors. A typical major comprises 10 to 14 courses, although requirements vary. Majors are declared after students have had time to explore, but before the enrollment period preceding the third year. Transfer students may bring up to four semesters of credit, yet must complete at least four full semesters and 16 graded courses through Holy Cross or its programs. Approved off-campus options include study abroad and the Washington Semester, and pre-professional advising is available for paths such as health, law, teaching, business and engineering.

Key Highlights

• Operating NECHE member with bachelor’s degrees in its accredited scope
• Founded in Worcester in 1843
• Exclusively undergraduate institution awarding the Bachelor of Arts
• Jesuit Catholic mission connects liberal arts study with ethics, reflection and service

Student Life & Environment

Holy Cross offers a residential undergraduate environment with student activities organized around clubs, recreation, cultural programming, service, faith and athletics. The current catalog reports more than 100 recognized student organizations that collectively plan roughly 1,000 events each year. Available groups represent academic and professional interests, cultural identities, performing arts, student government, community service, media, religious life and special interests. Students can also propose organizations when an interest is not represented. Recreation ranges from more than 20 student-led club sports to intramural leagues and instructor-led fitness classes. The Joanne Chouinard-Luth Recreation and Wellness Center includes gym courts, an indoor track, studios and fitness equipment. NCAA athletics and school-spirit programs add another dimension, but participation in campus life is not limited to varsity athletes. Residence halls are an important part of the first-year transition. For fall 2026, the College scheduled a dedicated first-year move-in and used a roommate-matching survey before releasing assignments. The first-year Montserrat program also links liberal arts seminars with living-and-learning communities. Weekend events, performances and late-night programs provide on-campus options, while student-government shuttles connect students with destinations in Worcester. Because the institution’s Catholic identity is visible through worship, reflection and service opportunities, prospective students may want to explore how religious and nonreligious communities coexist on campus.

Location & Surroundings

Holy Cross occupies a hilltop campus at 1 College Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Worcester is a substantial urban center rather than a traditional small college town, giving students access to health care, biotechnology, manufacturing, cultural organizations and community partners. The College highlights internships, volunteering and community-based learning as practical ways students engage with the city. Worcester offers museums, performance venues, parks, professional sports and restaurants. Holy Cross students can use weekend shuttles to reach selected city destinations, and Worcester Regional Transit Authority Route 42 serves the College. Union Station, about a five-minute drive from campus according to the College, provides Amtrak and MBTA commuter-rail connections, including service toward Boston. This makes Boston reachable without a car, although the trip should not be treated as an everyday walk from campus. Worcester Regional Airport is approximately 15 minutes from Holy Cross, while Boston Logan is roughly an hour away under favorable conditions and can be reached through combinations of rail, shuttle or rideshare. The location suits students seeking a defined residential campus with access to a midsized New England city, rather than a campus embedded directly in central Boston.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Holy Cross publishes annual tuition of $70,220. Standard housing is $11,500, the resident food plan is $9,090, the health-service fee is $470 and the activity fee is $460, producing published billed charges of $91,740 with standard housing and food. Health insurance is listed separately at $2,921 and may be waived when coverage requirements are met. Apartment housing and meal-plan charges differ. These are sticker prices before aid and do not represent every student’s full personal or travel budget. Holy Cross states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need at admission, as it calculates that need using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. For 2026–2027, domestic aid applicants generally submit both forms and supporting tax documentation by the deadline for their admission plan. International applicants use the international CSS Profile; the College says it meets full demonstrated need for admitted international students but warns that available international funding is limited and competition for aid is strong. Applicants should use the net-price calculator and compare grant, work and loan components rather than judging affordability from the sticker price alone. The College’s Class of 2025 first-destination survey covered 715 of 766 graduates with known outcomes. It reports that 91% were employed or interning, pursuing further education, completing full-time service or holding a fellowship; 60% were employed full time and 20% were continuing their education. These are survey outcomes, not guarantees. Career support includes advising, career communities, employer engagement and Handshake listings.