Jacob Wu ‘28
Staff Writer and Web Editor
Last year, Holy Cross announced the most competitive admission cycle in its history, with a record-breaking number of applicants, an overall acceptance rate of 21%, and a record yield of admitted students for the class of 2027. This year, for the class of 2028, the college experienced another unprecedented admissions cycle that once again set records for all of these metrics. The pattern reflects Holy Cross’s status as a top-ranked liberal arts college and its growing national profile as a leading institution of Catholic higher education, a status previously noted by journalist Diane Brady, an executive of Fortune magazine, who described Holy Cross as “one of the country’s most prestigious Catholic colleges.”
On September 6, Cornell B. LeSane II, Vice President for Enrollment Management, announced in a letter to the campus community that “admission to the class of 2028 was more competitive than ever with a 10% increase in the number of applications submitted, and the lowest-ever proportion of applicants admitted — 17.6%.” LeSane also revealed that of the students who were admitted, half made the decision to spend their college years on the Hill — a record 50% yield rate. The class of 2028, comprising 835 first-year students and 45 transfer students, brought “a myriad of backgrounds, talents, and perspectives to come together as a class.” For the class of 2027, by comparison, the college received 8,670 applications, of which 1,829 (21%) were admitted and 824 (45%) chose to enroll.
The class of 2028 also marks one of Holy Cross’ “most diverse and academically accomplished” classes, according to LeSane. Its members hail from “507 different high schools, 41 U.S. states and territories, 13 different countries” and speak a total of 33 different languages. They also consist of “more students of color, Pell-eligible students, and first-generation college students than the preceding class.” Among the achievements LeSane highlighted in the new class were those who built an engineering machine sent to space by NASA, a three-time national diving champion, and a student who “raised $250,000 to fund over 5,000 cataract surgeries.”
The reason behind such a dramatic series of admission landmarks is manyfold. In recent years, the college has made new strides in its accessibility, including partnering in 2022 with the non-profit organization QuestBridge to reach out to low-income and first-generation students. In an earlier message to the community in December 2023, LeSane detailed how the college experienced a 20 percent increase in Early Decision I applicants for 2023–2024 compared to 2022–2023. President Vincent Rougeau, writing in an email on September 18, 2023, commented on Holy Cross’ rise in the 2023-2024 U.S. News and World Report rankings, which placed the college 27th among 211 liberal arts colleges in the nation — a move of 6 places from last year’s ranking. Rougeau highlighted the college’s successes in retention, graduation rates, and inclusivity. “For many campus members, this news will come as no surprise,” he wrote. “Our vibrant academic life, shaped by our Jesuit tradition, has long placed great emphasis on a holistic, contextualized and student-centered learning environment.”
Featured Image Courtesy of IBL News
Copy Edited by Lauren Backstrom
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