How to get into College of the Holy Cross
How to get into Holy Cross: Jesuit identity and Common Good matter
17.6%
Acceptance rate
$64,500
In-state cost
What makes College of the Holy Cross admissions different
Holy Cross (Worcester, MA, ~3,000 students) is the only top-tier liberal arts college in America that's exclusively undergraduate AND Jesuit. The Montserrat first-year program, the Honors Program, and the Common Good mission are central. Admit rate ~18%. Test-blind permanently since 2022.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Write supplements that engage with the Jesuit mission — the Common Good, men and women for others, reflective inquiry. Generic answers stand out.
- 2.
Apply ED I (Dec 15) or ED II (Jan 15) for the strongest odds.
- 3.
Take the most rigorous curriculum your school offers; Holy Cross rewards academic preparation.
- 4.
Show fit with the residential, small-college, mission-driven culture.
- 5.
Engage with the Montserrat first-year program in your 'Why Holy Cross' answer.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Submitting test scores. Holy Cross is test-blind — scores are not considered.
- ✕
Treating Jesuit identity as a marketing line. Readers value authentic engagement with mission.
- ✕
Generic 'small school' essays.
The specifics for College of the Holy Cross
Application deadlines
- Early Decision IDecember 15
- Early Decision IIJanuary 15
- Regular DecisionJanuary 15
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Permanently test-blind
Holy Cross has been test-blind since 2022 — test scores are not considered
Montserrat first-year program
All first-year students enroll in a year-long themed living-learning cluster
What graduates actually do
Holy Cross alumni are heavily concentrated in law, medicine, finance (especially Boston and NYC), and education. The Jesuit liberal arts foundation produces an unusually high rate of medical and law school admits — roughly 90% of Holy Cross med school applicants get accepted somewhere. Median early-career earnings run around $60-65k per Scorecard. The alumni network is tightly Northeast Catholic and famously loyal in professional services recruiting.
Notable alumni
- Clarence Thomas — U.S. Supreme Court Justice
- Chris Matthews — broadcaster (Hardball)
- Bob Cousy — NBA Hall of Famer
- Edward Bennett Williams — trial lawyer, Washington Redskins owner
- Anthony Fauci — physician, NIAID director
- Joseph Califano — former U.S. Secretary of HEW
Transfer pathway
Holy Cross admits transfers for fall and spring. Applicants typically need at least one semester of full-time college coursework, strong grades, and demonstrated interest in the Jesuit liberal arts model. The application uses the Common App transfer form with a college report and academic recommendations.
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Holy Cross's test-blind policy plus its Jesuit identity create a distinctive applicant pool. Strong essays + ED + demonstrated fit with mission = real shot for borderline applicants.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.