As the price tag of higher education continues to rise, affordability has become a focal point for high schoolers and parents navigating the college search process. Prospective students and their parents are likely wondering: How does Holy Cross stack up?
Personalized Approach
"With grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts, Holy Cross financial aid counselors work closely with students and families to make a Holy Cross degree accessible," writes Edmit, an online platform dedicated to helping high school seniors make financially savvier decisions about where to go to college.
In an article written by Sarah Pascarella, Edmit takes a closer look at how one parent, Kim Grimes of Arizona, navigates the tuition and financial aid process at Holy Cross, with the hope of demystifying the daunting task for other students and parents.
The Q&A kicked off with Grimes, a parent of a member of the class of 2021, explaining how much the cost of Holy Cross factored into her child’s decision of where to go to college.
'Best Value' College
"My child decided only to apply to schools that would meet his full financial need," she shares with Edmit. "Although private schools are expensive compared to state schools, the former provide more money percentage-wise — and for Holy Cross, a better education — than state schools. My child also selected Holy Cross over other elite liberal arts schools because it is a Best Value College — we knew that his degree from Holy Cross was worth the investment because alumni have amazing career earnings."
In the early stages of the college search, Grimes shares that she did months of research to understand how need-based aid and merit-based aid were given, a system that had seen many changes since she was in college herself.
User Friendly Process
Holy Cross, she explains, made it simple with a user-friendly website and straightforward financial aid letter, and by making it easy for parents to gauge how much financial aid or scholarships they would receive. In the end, her expectation aligned with what was actually offered.
"Once I knew my [Expected Family Contribution], I could make a pretty accurate guesstimate of what Holy Cross would offer. Having the FAFSA due October 1 instead of January 1 is the best decision that was made because students get their EFC much faster and using the previous year’s tax returns helps us parents prepare sooner for costs."
'Insider' Tips
"What advice or insider tips do you have for other parents whose children want to go to College of the Holy Cross?" Edmit asked.
"Ask questions! The Holy Cross financial aid office is prompt and accurate in its responses," says Grimes, who also suggested filing FAFSA and CSS as soon as possible.
"Take advantage of the work opportunities that Holy Cross provides," she adds. "While most colleges require students to apply and interview for their own work-study jobs, Holy Cross takes this worry away by placing all freshmen workers in the cafeteria. This is brilliant because students can start right away earning money and focusing on their adjustment to college rather than seeking work-study employment."
To read the full article, go to Edmit.me.
Beyond highlighting Holy Cross financial aid processes, Edmit also named Holy Cross a Hidden Gem School last spring, pointing to the College's holistic and career-centric curriculum, its affordability and stellar career prep.
