If your child is seeking a Jesuit education, the College of the Holy Cross might just be the place for them. Located in the quirky, postindustrial, Western Massachusetts city of Worcester, the College of the Holy Cross is a leading institution in Catholic education. In fact, it was founded in 1843 as the first Catholic institution in New England. 

Before we talk about how to get into Holy Cross, let’s briefly review what sets this school apart. 

About College of the Holy Cross 

Holy Cross is a small school with only 3,200 students. About 88% of students live on campus all four years, so your child will not want for a nice, close-knit community. And Holy Cross alumni have ascended to some of the highest ranks in the US government: former chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas attended the Jesuit school. 

Political Science is one of the most popular majors among undergraduates at Holy Cross, and this makes sense given that the school is held together by Jesuit traditions that see scholarship and community service as inseparable. 

For applicants to the College of the Holy Cross’ Class of 2029, an even 17% earned admission. The year prior, for the Class of 2028, this number was an even 18%. For the Class of 2027, 21.10% of students were invited to join this community of pious learners. These data suggest that one thing’s for certain: the acceptance rate is trending downward, and members of the Class of 2030 should prepare for heightened competition.

Holy Cross Admissions Requirements

This means that getting into the College of the Holy Cross will require some strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). While there’s no copy-and-paste format for a successful application to Holy Cross (just as there isn’t for any school), there are still certain features that unite the 17% of students who receive admission. Without further ado, let’s get into them. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into College of the Holy Cross? 

The following is the class rank breakdown of Holy Cross’ Class of 2027 members, as reported in Holy Cross’ 2023-24 Common Data Set (the most recent Common Data Set available. Holy Cross, please publish more up-to-date data; your public awaits you!) Unfortunately, Holy Cross hasn’t reported any GPA data for recently admitted cohorts, so the class rank data below is the closest to gauging the GPA requirements for admission in Holy Cross’s competitive admissions process.

Assessment	Percent
Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class	38%
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class	69%
Percent in top half of high school graduating class	94%
Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class	6%
Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class	1%
Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank:	22%

It’s safe to say that admissions officers at Holy Cross are screening for applicants with great grades, which is news that probably won’t surprise you. But it’s important to note that they consider these grades in context. If your child has a 4.0, but they never made it past precalculus or took an AP class in a school that offers a dozen of them, well, that’s different if your child has a 4.0 and took AP Calculus BC and the other advanced courses on offer to them. 

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Holy Cross? 

The average SAT score for admits to the Holy Cross Class of 2027 (again, this is the most recently available data) was a 1340, and the average ACT score was a 30. Though Holy Cross is test-optional, we at Ivy Coach believe that this is a fable, and students applying to any school are at a disadvantage if they don’t submit test scores, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Holy Cross?

Though Holy Cross does not list any official minimum high school course preparation, we at Ivy Coach would make a very educated guess that admissions officers at Holy Cross want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Holy Cross Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means Holy Cross is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the field hockey team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. Holy Cross would much rather accept a nationally ranked debate champ than a kid who spent an hour or two on debate a week because he spent the rest forgetting Shakespeare lines and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

College of the Holy Cross Application Requirements 

The College of the Holy Cross accepts both the Common App and Coalition App. Additionally, Holy Cross asks applicants to send two letters of recommendation, one from a school counselor and one from a teacher. Holy Cross also offers the option to submit supplementary materials that showcase special talents, like artwork, performance clips, or original writing. 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Holy Cross? 

Holy Cross applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Holy Cross Require An Interview? 

Holy Cross does not require an interview, but they say that they strongly encourage one. Holy Cross offers both in-person and virtual interviews. 

What Are Holy Cross’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications are due on Nov. 15. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due Jan. 15. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Holy Cross

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Holy Cross, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Holy Cross, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.