College of the Holy Cross vs Hillsdale College
College of the Holy Cross and Hillsdale College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Holy Cross, a Jesuit college in Worcester, Massachusetts, boasts a 44% acceptance rate, while Hillsdale, a private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan, maintains a highly selective 30% acceptance rate. Holy Cross students pursue diverse majors, with popular choices including Economics, Biology, and Psychology. In contrast, Hillsdale's curriculum emphasizes the liberal arts, with popular majors such as English, History, and Political Science. Both colleges foster vibrant student communities, with Holy Cross's student body comprising 34% students of color and Hillsdale's student body being predominantly White. While Holy Cross boasts a higher graduation rate of 92%, Hillsdale's 88% graduation rate is still commendable. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() College of the Holy Cross |
![]() Hillsdale College |
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Overview |
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Location | Worcester, Massachusetts | Hillsdale, Michigan |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Undenominational |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 42.9% | 23.7% |
Application fees | $60 |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 1240 - 1420 | 1340 - 1510 |
ACT range | 28 - 32 | 30 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 22.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 38.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,498 | 2,994 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,786 | 709 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 821 | 397 |
Yield rate | 29.5% | 56.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,520 | $45,382 |
Average net price | $29,198 | $24,057 |
Tuition | $55,800 | $28,730 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,800
Meal plan:
$7,280
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Room/dormitory:
$6,020
Meal plan:
$6,120
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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 |
100.0%
Average amount $20,535 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $2,342 |
34.0%
Average amount $10,497 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,029
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
Graduate students | N/A |
87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
N/A |
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.1% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,619 | 1,124 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.6% | 87.6% |
Dropout rate | 1.8% | 8.3% |
Transferred out | 4.7% | 3.9% |
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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N/A |
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