Jesuits founded Holy Cross in 1843 on a hill called Mount St. James, and it remains the oldest Catholic college in New England. It is a private, undergraduate-only liberal arts college of about 3,000 students in Worcester, Massachusetts. Classes are small and taught by faculty. Economics, political science and pre-health tracks draw many students, and the alumni network in Boston is close-knit.
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Official website: holycross.edu
1843
Private Jesuit liberal arts college
Undergraduate only, about 3,000
$62,000 – $66,000
Tuition before financial aid
$17,000 – $20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on holycross.edu before you apply.
BA Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Political Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Psychology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Small, discussion-based classes with no graduate students.
Strong pre-medical and pre-law advising.
A Jesuit tradition of service and community work.
Many graduates go into finance, consulting and law, often through alumni in Boston and New York.
Pre-health students have good acceptance rates into medical schools.
Bachelor's graduates may qualify for 12 months of OPT.
Undergrad
Mid-Jan deadline
Postgrad
No PG intake
Worcester is New England's second-largest city, with a dozen colleges and a new minor-league ballpark, Polar Park. The Holy Cross campus is on a leafy hill overlooking the city.
Commuter trains run from Union Station to Boston in about 90 minutes. Most Holy Cross students live on campus for all four years.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Holy Cross has Early Decision rounds in the autumn and a Regular Decision deadline in mid-January for fall entry. Financial aid forms are due around the same time.
New first-year students start in late August. There is no spring intake for first-years.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from College of the Holy Cross first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Economics, political science, biology, psychology and computer science are popular. Admission is selective and holistic, based on grades, essays and references. Non-native speakers usually need TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0.
Holy Cross gives need-based aid, not merit scholarships. A limited amount of aid is available to international students, and requesting it is part of a need-aware review.
