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Compare Brandeis University vs College of the Holy Cross

Waltham, MA · Worcester, MA

Brandeis UniversityCollege of the Holy Cross
Cost
Price after aid (average)$35,736/yr$38,782/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$13,363/yr$14,343/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$25,648$27,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$15,135/yr$16,179/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$20,536/yr$12,682/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$26,784/yr$27,711/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$54,885/yr$56,284/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$272/mo$286/mo
Room & board (on campus)$19,944/yr$18,820/yr
Room & board (off campus)$13,313/yr$18,820/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,000/yr$1,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,200/yr$900/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$86,448/yr$80,334/yr
Tuition (in-state)$68,080/yr$64,500/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$68,080/yr$64,500/yr
Students with Pell Grants15%15%
Students taking federal loans28%38%
Getting in
Students who get accepted41%18%
SAT range (middle 50%)1390–15201240–1410
SAT average14621353
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3427–32
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 31–35 · Math 27–34English 25–34 · Math 25–29
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received11,2828,670
Students accepted3,9841,829
Students who enrolled865823
Accepted students who enroll22%45%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores31%35%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores11%19%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate86%87%
Freshmen who come back87%95%
Typical earnings 10 years in$77,231/yr$90,543/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$51,787–$116,723$65,874–$134,575
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)88%91%
White students graduating88%88%
Black students graduating80%94%
Hispanic students graduating83%86%
Asian students graduating87%81%
Typical earnings 6 years in$52,967/yr$69,984/yr
Earn more than a HS grad85%92%
Graduate on time77%85%
Pell students who graduate82%90%
First-gen students who finish79%91%
Low-income students who finish75%No data reported
Students who transfer out7.7%5.8%
Typical earnings 8 years in$69,857/yr$84,240/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 19% · Psychology 8%Social Sciences 33% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Psychology 12%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 19% of degreesSocial Sciences — 33% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 19% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesPsychology — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programPublic Administration & Social Service — 8% of degreesPhysical Sciences — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degreesMathematics & Statistics — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $89,111/yrComputer Science — $74,842/yr
Degrees in STEM35%27%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,6183,106
Students per professor10 : 19 : 1
Graduate students1,573No data reported
Average professor pay$14,570/mo$12,363/mo
Full-time professors74%89%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$72,612$106,778
SettingCity (small)City (midsize)
LocationWaltham, MAWorcester, MA
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded19481843
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students19%3.2%
Men43%46%
Women57%54%
White students41%68%
Black students5.8%4.7%
Hispanic or Latino students9%13%
Asian students18%3.2%
Two or more races4.3%4.1%
Other / not reported2.4%3.7%
Special typeNoneReligiously affiliated
First-generation students16%17%
Part-time students0.2%0%
Students age 25+0.4%0.2%
Spent on teaching per student$21,670/yr$24,933/yr
Endowment$1.3B$1.1B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,9502,719
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$10,160/yr$9,900/yr
Meal plan charge$7,658/yr$7,850/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekNo data reported
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationNo data reportedRoman Catholic
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Navy
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III without footballNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamNoYes
Varsity teams1523
Student athletes287712
Athletic scholarships$0$14.7M
Athletics budget$5.7M$34.2M
Athletics revenue$5.7M$34.2M
Recruiting spend$76,511$606,293

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.