College of the Holy Cross vs Gettysburg College
College of the Holy Cross and Gettysburg College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Holy Cross, a Jesuit college in Worcester, Massachusetts, boasts a 33% acceptance rate and a student body of over 3,000 undergraduates. Gettysburg, located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 40% and a smaller student body of around 2,600 undergraduates. While Holy Cross is known for its strengths in the humanities and social sciences, Gettysburg excels in the natural sciences and engineering. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with popular choices at Holy Cross including Economics, English, and Psychology, and popular choices at Gettysburg including Biology, Business Administration, and Political Science. With graduation rates of 92% and 89% respectively, both institutions ensure that their students are well-prepared for successful careers or further education. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional colleges and determine which one aligns
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![]() College of the Holy Cross |
![]() Gettysburg College |
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Overview |
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Location | Worcester, Massachusetts | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 42.9% | 56.3% |
Application fees | $60 | $60 |
SAT range | 1240 - 1420 | 1280 - 1430 |
ACT range | 28 - 32 | 28 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,498 | 6,206 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,786 | 3,496 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 821 | 623 |
Yield rate | 29.5% | 17.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,520 | $64,360 |
Average net price | $29,198 | $35,794 |
Tuition | $55,800 | $59,960 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,800
Meal plan:
$7,280
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Room/dormitory:
$7,710
Meal plan:
$6,660
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
63.0%
Average amount $33,661 |
95.0%
Average amount $38,858 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
51.0%
Average amount $4,917 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $2,342 |
17.0%
Average amount $6,505 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,029
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
2,401
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 77.6% |
International students | 3.1% | 4.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,619 | 2,444 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.6% | 82.0% |
Dropout rate | 1.8% | 3.2% |
Transferred out | 4.7% | 14.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Philosophy (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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