College of the Holy Cross vs Notre Dame
College of the Holy Cross and University of Notre Dame, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Holy Cross, a Jesuit college in Worcester, Massachusetts, boasts a tight-knit community and a rigorous liberal arts curriculum. Notre Dame, a Catholic research university in South Bend, Indiana, is renowned for its strong academic programs, vibrant campus life, and storied football tradition. With acceptance rates of 33% and 18%, respectively, these universities attract high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds. While Holy Cross excels in the social sciences and humanities, Notre Dame offers a wider range of majors, including engineering, business, and science. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors that will help you make an informed decision about your academic future.
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![]() College of the Holy Cross |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
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Overview |
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Location | Worcester, Massachusetts | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
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% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 42.9% | 15.1% |
Application fees | $60 |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1240 - 1420 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 28 - 32 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 36.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,498 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,786 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 821 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 29.5% | 57.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not 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 | $78,347 |
Average net price | $29,198 | $30,513 |
Tuition | $55,800 | $58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,800
Meal plan:
$7,280
|
$16,304 |
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 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $2,342 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,029
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students | N/A |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 93.1% |
International students | 3.1% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,619 | 6,919 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.6% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 1.8% | 3.9% |
Transferred out | 4.7% | N/A |
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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Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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