Holy Cross Welcomes 860-Student Class of 2030

Alfred Ritz Sabanal of Saipan is among the 860 students enrolling at the College of the Holy Cross this fall.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in College Applications

Red-brick academic hall with a stone clock tower overlooking an autumn lawn and stone walkway under overcast daylight. — The College of the Holy Cross has enrolled 860 students in its Class of 2030, admitting 17% of more than 10,600 applicants from 39 states and five countries. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The College of the Holy Cross has enrolled 860 students in its Class of 2030, drawn from 39 U.S. states and territories and five countries. The college received more than 10,600 applications and accepted 17% of applicants for the class.

Why it matters

The incoming class's selectivity and geographic reach reflect how competitive admissions have become at small liberal arts colleges. For prospective applicants in Worcester and beyond, the figures offer a concrete measure of what admission to a highly selective, nationally drawn campus now requires.

Holy Cross was founded in 1843 as a four-year, undergraduate-only liberal arts college in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The Class of 2030 includes students from 39 U.S. states and territories and five countries, with about 3,200 students enrolled overall.

The players

College of the Holy Cross

A four-year Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, founded in 1843 and known for its undergraduate-only focus.

Vincent D. Rougeau

The president of the College of the Holy Cross, who addressed the incoming class at First-Year Convocation.

The details

Holy Cross announced the enrollment, and College President Vincent D. Rougeau addressed the class during First-Year Convocation. The incoming students, including Alfred Ritz Sabanal of Saipan, began their studies this fall.

1843: Holy Cross is founded.
Fall 2026: The Class of 2030 enrolls and begins First-Year Convocation.

Season Trajectory

The enrollment of an 860-student class continues the Jesuit liberal arts tradition Holy Cross has maintained since its 1843 founding. Its selective admissions rate places it among the more competitive undergraduate colleges in New England.

Prospective applicants should note that Holy Cross accepted 17% of more than 10,600 applicants for this class, so planning for a competitive pool matters. Students weighing similar selective colleges can use these figures to set realistic expectations for their own application timelines.

The takeaway

Selective enrollment figures like these show that a small, focused class can still draw students from across the country and abroad. Applicants considering similar schools should weigh both the admissions odds and the breadth of the community they would join.