College of the Holy Cross vs Marquette
College of the Holy Cross and Marquette University, both esteemed private institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Holy Cross, a Jesuit college in Worcester, Massachusetts, boasts a lower acceptance rate (33%) and a smaller student body (3,000 undergraduates) compared to Marquette, a Jesuit university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which has a higher acceptance rate (73%) and a larger student body (11,000 undergraduates). While Holy Cross is known for its strong liberal arts curriculum, Marquette offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including engineering, nursing, and business. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' differences in popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
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![]() College of the Holy Cross |
![]() Marquette University |
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Overview |
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Location | Worcester, Massachusetts | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: 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% | 89.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 42.9% | 86.3% |
Application fees | $60 | $50 |
SAT range | 1240 - 1420 | 1180 - 1360 |
ACT range | 28 - 32 | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 13.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 37.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,498 | 16,270 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,786 | 14,034 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 821 | 1,657 |
Yield rate | 29.5% | 11.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not 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 | $65,562 |
Average net price | $29,198 | $33,566 |
Tuition | $55,800 | $44,970 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,800
Meal plan:
$7,280
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Room/dormitory:
$9,280
Meal plan:
$4,860
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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 $28,052 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
45.0%
Average amount $5,497 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $2,342 |
9.0%
Average amount $19,168 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,029
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
7,660
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
Graduate students | N/A |
3,660
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.1% | 3.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,619 | 5,295 |
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 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.6% | 81.4% |
Dropout rate | 1.8% | 18.3% |
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, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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