College of the Holy Cross

Open-ended questions lead to life-changing discoveries 
A Holy Cross education is marked bya shared commitment to academic excellence, critical inquiry and reflection, and deep engagement with questions of meaning and value. Led by faculty renowned for their scholarship and commitment to teaching and mentoring, students are challenged to be open to new ways of thinking, to seek new discoveries, and to explore their passions in a collabor-ative and supportive environment. 

Known for its academic excellence and mentoring-based liberal arts ed-ucation in the Jesuit tradition, Holy Cross is a highly selective four-year college ranked among the nation’s best. An exclusively undergraduate institution with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, Holy Cross assures students of rich opportunities within its academic programs to explore and specialize. Holy Cross graduates are not only prepared for success in a rapidly changing world-—they are prepared to lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

In keeping with the Jesuits’ commitment to educating “men and women for and with others,” Holy Cross is also a values-oriented community that places great emphasis on service and justice. Students of all faith traditions are welcomed and encouraged to think deeply about what they learn, align that knowledge with their personal beliefs, and translate their understanding into meaningful action on campus and in the wider world. There are plentiful opportunities for service and engagement in the local community, as well as for domestic and international immersion experiences in areas such as Appalachia, Guatemala, Haiti, and El Salvador.  

Educating the whole person
All first-year students participate in Montserrat, a unique living-learning program that combines a full-year, small-group academic seminar with opportunities beyond the classroom to engage with classmates and professors who are exploring similar subject areas through residential life and cocurricular activities. Holy Cross has a number of innovative academic options, including community-based learning courses, full-year study abroad, cross- disciplinary learning opportunities, academic internships, and independent and self-designed majors, minors, and concentrations. There are also focused career programs for students interested in pursuing business, engineering, law, medicine, and teaching.

The College’s storied athletic tradition continues today with 27 Division I varsity sports and membership in the Patriot League, recognized for its development of scholar-athletes. While about 25% of the student body are varsity athletes, there are a host of club and intramural sports programs open to all. 

Students run and participate in more than 100 clubs and organizations. These range from a cappella groups to the weekly student newspaper and radio station, from multicultural organizations to philanthropic efforts, and from diverse leadership opportunities centered in student government to peer education. 

Centrally located in beautiful New EnglandEstablished in 1843, Holy Cross is located in Worcester, Massachusetts—New England’s second-largest city and home to nine other colleges and universities. The city and neighboring region offer a wide array of cultural and recreational attractions—from the Worcester Art Museum, American Antiquarian Society, and Hanover Theatre to hiking trails on Wachusett Mountain and the city of Worcester’s 53 public parks. The Holy Cross campus occupies 174 beautifully landscap-ed acres atop Mount St. James and features striking views, classic and contemporary architecture, and state-of-the-art facilities and technology. There is easy access from campus to nearby major airports and to rail and bus service. Destinations like the ski slopes of Vermont and New Hampshire and the beaches of Cape Cod and Rhode Island are also within day-trip reach. 

Life after Holy Cross
With a liberal arts education, students can pursue practically any career—and our Holy Cross alumni are leaders in business, science and health professions, and legal and nonprofit organizations. Members of the Holy Cross community—including academic and pre-professional advisors, individual professors, career-planning counselors, chaplains, and coaches—are committed to helping students discover their paths and options. The Holy Cross alumni network is an extraordinarily close-knit, loyal, and powerful force. Many alumni offer internships within their firms and regularly return to campus for formal and informal networking with current students.