The average acceptance rate at Holy Cross over the past 10 years is 34.33%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 17.61%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to Holy Cross in 2025.
The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 3 years, indicating increasing selectivity.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 34.34%, and the 2025 yield is 49.55%. Overall, the yield has increased by 63.97% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Holy Cross applicants increased by 10.36% (898 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 45.08% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 17.61%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Holy Cross has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 49.55%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Holy Cross is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Holy Cross and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Holy Cross received approximately 9,568 applications, admitted 1,685 students, and enrolled 835 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Holy Cross is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Holy Cross 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Holy Cross over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 3 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 34.33%, while the most recent rate stands at 17.61%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 17.61%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 36.24% and for women is 32.79%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Holy Cross have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 37.03% | 42.77% | 32.33% |
| 2016-17 | 38.46% 1.43% |
43.53% 0.76% |
34.30% 1.97% |
| 2017-18 | 39.60% 1.14% |
44.16% 0.62% |
35.83% 1.53% |
| 2018-19 | 38.01% -1.59% |
42.76% -1.40% |
34.01% -1.82% |
| 2019-20 | 34.22% -3.78% |
35.77% -6.99% |
32.96% -1.05% |
| 2020-21 | 37.94% 3.72% |
38.05% 2.29% |
37.86% 4.89% |
| 2021-22 | 43.00% 5.06% |
42.01% 3.96% |
44.00% 6.15% |
| 2022-23 | 36.36% -6.64% |
34.95% -7.07% |
37.65% -6.35% |
| 2023-24 | 21.10% -15.26% |
20.68% -14.26% |
21.45% -16.20% |
| 2024-25 | 17.61% -3.48% |
17.72% -2.96% |
17.51% -3.95% |
| Average | 34.33% | 36.24% | 32.79% |
Holy Cross has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 30.22% in 2015 to 49.55% in 2025, representing a 63.97% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 34.34%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Holy Cross from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 63.97% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 30.22% | 27.74% | 32.91% |
| 2016-17 | 29.72% -0.50% |
27.59% -0.15% |
31.93% -0.97% |
| 2017-18 | 31.24% 1.52% |
29.65% 2.06% |
32.85% 0.91% |
| 2018-19 | 32.38% 1.14% |
31.20% 1.55% |
33.61% 0.77% |
| 2019-20 | 33.64% 1.27% |
31.72% 0.52% |
35.35% 1.73% |
| 2020-21 | 27.33% -6.31% |
25.29% -6.43% |
29.01% -6.34% |
| 2021-22 | 28.99% 1.66% |
29.95% 4.66% |
29.01% 0.00% |
| 2022-23 | 35.30% 6.31% |
34.49% 4.54% |
35.99% 6.98% |
| 2023-24 | 45.00% 9.70% |
46.11% 11.61% |
44.06% 8.08% |
| 2024-25 | 49.55% 4.56% |
47.10% 1.00% |
51.69% 7.62% |
| Average | 34.34% | 33.09% | 35.64% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 7,302, the average number of admitted is 2,434, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 813.
The number of Holy Cross applicants increased by 10.36% (898 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 45.08% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at College of the Holy Cross from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 6,595 | 2,442 | 738 |
| 2016-17 | 6,693 1.49% |
2,574 5.41% |
765 3.66% |
| 2017-18 | 6,622 -1.06% |
2,622 1.86% |
819 7.06% |
| 2018-19 | 7,054 6.52% |
2,681 2.25% |
868 5.98% |
| 2019-20 | 7,200 2.07% |
2,464 -8.09% |
829 -4.49% |
| 2020-21 | 7,087 -1.57% |
2,689 9.13% |
735 -11.34% |
| 2021-22 | 6,498 -8.31% |
2,794 3.90% |
810 10.20% |
| 2022-23 | 7,036 8.28% |
2,558 -8.45% |
903 11.48% |
| 2023-24 | 8,670 23.22% |
1,829 -28.50% |
823 -8.86% |
| 2024-25 | 9,568 10.36% |
1,685 -7.87% |
835 1.46% |
| Average | 7,302 | 2,434 | 813 |
The following table compares College of the Holy Cross' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Holy Cross | 21.10% | 17.61% | -16.54% |
| United States Naval Academy | - | - | - |
| Colgate University | 13.88% | 11.95% | 16.15% |
| Loyola University Maryland | 75.49% | 76.33% | -1.10% |
| Lafayette College | 31.45% | 31.47% | -0.06% |
| Boston College | 16.43% | 15.65% | 4.98% |
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