Brief: Holy Cross Early Decision I Due Nov. 15

The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, lists November 15 as its Early Decision I deadline, with decisions on December 15, and Early Decision I applicants must also complete their interviews by November 15. Irvine seniors who consider Holy Cross their first choice have 11 days to arrange the application, the interview and financial aid forms.

Who Is Affected by the Holy Cross Early Decision Deadline

The deadline applies to seniors considering Holy Cross and deciding which round to use. The admissions page lists these dates:

Early Decision is binding: admitted students commit to attend. After a student selects Early Decision in the Common App or the Coalition Application on Scoir, the student, the school counselor and a parent or guardian each sign the commitment electronically.

What to Do Now About the Holy Cross Application

Schedule the interview first. Holy Cross strongly recommends an interview, which requires an appointment. Off-campus alumni interviews are not available to Early Decision applicants, and Early Decision I interviews must be completed by November 15, which makes this the tightest step.

Confirm the required materials. Holy Cross requires a high school transcript, one counselor recommendation, one teacher recommendation and a $65 application fee, plus the Early Decision agreement for Early Decision applicants. Testing is optional, and applicants who do not submit scores are at no disadvantage. Students who submit may self-report, and Holy Cross superscores both the SAT and the ACT.

Submit financial aid forms on the same day. Holy Cross meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students. For Early Decision I applicants seeking aid, the CSS Profile (school code 3282), the FAFSA (school code 002141) and 2025 federal tax forms submitted through IDOC are all due November 15, and aid decisions are released with the admission decision.

Consider optional supplementary materials. Students with talents in art, performance or writing may submit samples through Slideroom in the application.

For help choosing an application round, see the EDUBUS college admissions planning service; students who miss the first round can compare other colleges in Early Decision II: Using a Binding January Deadline.

Sources

• College of the Holy Cross: How to Apply (accessed November 4, 2026)
• College of the Holy Cross: Financial Aid (accessed November 4, 2026)