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Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross has one optional Why Holy Cross supplement, so your Common App personal statement carries most of the weight.

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Required supplements

0

Optional supplement

1 (Why Holy Cross)

Suggested length

~150-250 words

Test policy

Test-optional

What Holy Cross rewards

College of the Holy Cross keeps its writing requirements unusually light. There is no required Common App writing supplement. Instead, applicants get one optional "Why Holy Cross" question, delivered through the applicant portal, that runs short (plan for roughly 150 to 250 words). That means your Common App personal statement does most of the heavy lifting, and the optional supplement is your one chance to show genuine, specific interest in this particular Jesuit college.

Holy Cross is fully test-optional, and you will not be penalized for leaving scores off. Because the school weighs demonstrated interest, treating the optional essay as truly optional is a mistake for most applicants. The real challenge is small but sharp: write a tight, concrete answer that proves you understand what a Jesuit liberal arts education at Holy Cross actually is, not just that it is "small and prestigious."

01Specific, researched interest. Holy Cross reads the optional supplement as a demonstrated-interest signal. The students who stand out name actual programs, the Montserrat first-year seminar, study-abroad, or a department, and tie each one to something they have already done.
02Reflection over achievement. As a Jesuit school, Holy Cross prizes self-examination. Essays that show you thinking about why something mattered, not just listing what you accomplished, land better than trophy-case writing.
03Service and the common good. The Jesuit ideal of being people for and with others runs deep here. Lived service, mentoring, or community work that you actually reflect on reads as authentic fit.
04Intellectual range. Holy Cross is a pure liberal arts college with no business or engineering majors. It rewards students who are curious across disciplines and can explain why an undecided, exploratory path excites them.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for Holy Cross, each broken down with annotated examples.

Why Holy Cross (optional supplement)Optional; short response, roughly 150-250 words (the portal question is brief and unweighted by a strict count)

Why are you interested in attending Holy Cross?

See all 1 prompt and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Holy Cross and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Decision INovember 15
Early Decision IIJanuary 15
Regular DecisionJanuary 15
Notification (ED I / ED II / RD)Dec 15 / Feb 15 / mid-March

Cost

Sticker price$85,220
Avg net after aid$35,455
Meets full needYes
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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Holy Cross weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $35,455/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Holy Cross interview? Format, tips, and practice The Holy Cross Reader ProScore your draft against Holy Cross's exact prompts
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Holy Cross FAQ

What is Holy Cross's acceptance rate?

Around 18 percent of applicants are admitted, though Early Decision rates run much higher. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored roughly 1250 to 1410 on the SAT, and only a minority of the class submits scores at all, since Holy Cross is genuinely test-optional. At Holy Cross, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Holy Cross require?

Holy Cross requires 1 supplemental essay on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Holy Cross cost?

Holy Cross's published sticker price is about $85,220 per year, but the average family pays $35,455 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Holy Cross require SAT or ACT scores?

Holy Cross is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Holy Cross's application deadlines?

Holy Cross's application deadlines are Early Decision I November 15; Early Decision II January 15; Regular Decision January 15; Notification (ED I / ED II / RD) Dec 15 / Feb 15 / mid-March. Add Holy Cross to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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