Ethan Walker
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1843, it was the first Catholic college in New England and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the US. The college has a student body of around 3,000, with a majority female population. While Holy Cross has traditionally drawn students from Catholic high schools and private boarding schools, it is not a requirement to be Catholic to attend. The college offers a non-denominational Mass, and students are not forced to attend religious services or looked down upon for not practicing a faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of College | Jesuit Catholic |
| College Founding | 1843 |
| College Founder | Benedict Joseph Fenwick |
| College Location | Worcester, Massachusetts, US |
| College Campus Size | 174 acres |
| Number of Students | 3,000-3,200 |
| Student Demographics | Majority female, 70% Caucasian, 30% students of color and international students |
| Student Academic Background | Majority from public schools, top 20% of high school classes |
| Student Religious Background | Mostly Catholic, but also agnostic, atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc. |
| College Admission Rate (2024) | 17.6% |
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What You'll Learn
- Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Massachusetts, US
- It was founded in 1843 and was the first Catholic college in New England
- The college enrols around 3,000 students, with a majority female population
- Holy Cross is considered liberal and does not force Catholicism on its students
- The college offers non-denominational Mass and a choice of religion courses
Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Massachusetts, US
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, US. Founded in 1843 by educators Benedict Joseph Fenwick and Thomas F. Mulledy, Holy Cross was the first Catholic college in New England and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the country.
The college's 174-acre campus is situated on a hill overlooking the Blackstone River and Worcester. It is a four-year residential undergraduate institution with around 3,000 students and 328 faculty members. Students can choose from 64 academic programs, including interdisciplinary and self-designed majors in liberal arts disciplines. All students must successfully complete 32 semester courses in eight semesters of full-time study to graduate, with common requirements including courses in arts, literature, religion, philosophy, history, and cross-cultural studies.
Holy Cross has a rich history spanning more than 175 years and is known for its academic excellence, with departments in political science, economics, chemistry, classics, and literature. The college has been recognised as one of the nation's top liberal arts institutions, ranked 15th in Kiplinger's Personal Finance's 2019 list of best-value liberal arts colleges in the US. It has also been described as one of the Hidden Ivies for its rigorous academics and selective admissions process.
The college's Jesuit mission is expressed as the "service of faith in which the promotion of justice is a constitutive element, and is expressed in dialogue with other religions and cultures." Holy Cross encourages critical examination of religious and philosophical questions, fostering an environment of open dialogue and respect for diverse interpretations of the human experience. While it has traditionally drawn students from Catholic high schools and private boarding schools, the majority of current undergraduates come from public schools.
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It was founded in 1843 and was the first Catholic college in New England
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1843 by Benedict Joseph Fenwick, the second Bishop of Boston, and Thomas F. Mulledy, a Jesuit and former president of Georgetown University.
Fenwick had long wanted to establish a Catholic college in Boston, but his efforts were thwarted by the city's Protestant civic leaders. In 1843, he decided to leave Boston and open the college 45 miles (72 km) west of the city, in central Massachusetts. The site he chose, Mount Saint James, was purchased on February 2, 1843, from James Fitton, who had been running a Catholic boarding school there. The college was named after Fenwick's cathedral church, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and one of its inaugural buildings, Fenwick Hall, was named after him.
The College of the Holy Cross was the first Catholic college in New England and is among the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. It was founded to serve the educational needs of a new influx of Catholic immigrants, mostly Irish Americans, who had arrived after 1830. The college's establishment was also part of a broader movement to establish Catholic schools across the United States, particularly in the urban Northeast and Midwest, where there were large Irish and Catholic populations.
The College of the Holy Cross opened in October 1843 with six students aged 9 to 19. Within three years, enrollment had increased to 100 students. The college has since grown significantly and now has approximately 3,000 students, the majority of whom are female. While Holy Cross has traditionally drawn many of its students from Catholic high schools and private boarding schools, most current undergraduates come from public schools.
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The college enrols around 3,000 students, with a majority female population
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1843, it was the first Catholic college in New England and is among the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the US. The college is situated on a 174-acre campus overlooking the Blackstone River and Worcester.
Holy Cross enrols around 3,000 students, with a majority female population. The student body is made up of young men and women of proven accomplishment, with most having graduated in the top 20% of their high school classes. The college offers 64 academic programs, including interdisciplinary and self-designed majors in liberal arts disciplines.
Holy Cross has a strong Catholic identity and draws many of its students from a pool of historical Catholic high schools and private boarding schools. However, the college fosters a liberal and diverse environment, welcoming students from all religious backgrounds. Students are not required to attend mass or participate in religious activities, and only one religion course is mandatory. The college emphasises the service of faith and the promotion of justice, encouraging students to be concerned about human welfare and the creation of more just economies.
The College of the Holy Cross has produced several notable alumni, including politicians and leaders such as Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, Sr. and his son, Pennsylvania Treasurer and US Senator Bob Casey, Jr. The college is known for its beautiful campus and has won awards for excellence in architecture and landscaping.
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Holy Cross is considered liberal and does not force Catholicism on its students
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, founded in 1843 by Benedict Joseph Fenwick and Thomas F. Mulledy. It was the first Catholic college in New England and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.
Holy Cross has been criticised by some for being overly liberal and deviating from official Church teachings, particularly on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and liberation theology. The college has hosted seminars from Planned Parenthood and NARAL, and has invited speakers like pro-choice alumnus Chris Matthews, despite objections from pro-life alumni and the Catholic Church.
As a liberal arts college, Holy Cross encourages students to be open to new ideas, to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, and to combine a passion for truth with respect for others' views. The college seeks to foster a community marked by freedom, mutual respect, and civility, where critical examination of religious and philosophical questions is integral to the educational experience.
While Holy Cross has a Catholic heritage and mission, it does not force Catholicism on its students. The college welcomes students from diverse academic disciplines and religious traditions and encourages dialogue and respect for differences. Students are challenged to uncover their own beliefs and how they wish to live, and are equipped to become skilled, discerning leaders in their chosen professions.
Holy Cross has approximately 3,000 students and offers 64 academic programs, including interdisciplinary and self-designed majors in liberal arts disciplines. The college has a majority female student population, and while it has traditionally drawn students from Catholic high schools and private boarding schools, most current undergraduates come from public schools.
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The college offers non-denominational Mass and a choice of religion courses
The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1843, it was the first Catholic college in New England and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.
While the college has a Catholic heritage and has traditionally drawn many of its students from Catholic high schools, it is non-denominational in its outlook and welcomes students of all faiths. The college offers non-denominational Mass, allowing students of different faiths to come together and share in the experience of faith and worship. The non-denominational Mass is an opportunity for students to fulfil their Sunday obligation and attend Mass together as a community.
The college also offers a range of religion courses that cater to students from diverse religious backgrounds. These courses provide a valuable opportunity for students to learn about different faiths and traditions, fostering an environment of religious understanding and tolerance. The college's approach to religious education reflects its commitment to providing a well-rounded and inclusive educational experience for its students.
In addition to its non-denominational Mass and religion courses, the College of the Holy Cross also organises interfaith retreats, where students from different religious backgrounds can come together and share their experiences of faith. These retreats offer a unique opportunity for students to engage in meaningful dialogue, gain new perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of other faiths.
By offering non-denominational Mass, a diverse range of religion courses, and interfaith retreats, the College of the Holy Cross creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for students from all religious backgrounds. These initiatives encourage dialogue, tolerance, and mutual understanding, enriching the spiritual lives of the college community.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Holy Cross is a Jesuit-Catholic school and the oldest Catholic college in New England.
Yes, most students are Catholic, but the college is very liberal in this sense and people of different religious beliefs or even those with a lack of belief are comfortable in the environment.
No, students are not forced to go to Mass or looked down upon for not practicing their religious faith. Holy Cross fosters diversity and tries to help students become their own person.
Students are required to take one religion course, but this can be on anything from Buddhism to Islam to Hinduism.
Holy Cross has a student population of around 3,000, roughly half men and half women.
