A new residence hall, a geographically diverse incoming class and expanded student programming highlight the start of 2026–2027.

Students are returning to Holy Cross College for a new academic year filled with new faces, new spaces and new opportunities.

1. Holy Cross Hall is becoming home

Holy Cross is opening its first new campus building in more than a decade on Friday.

The $12 million, 29,000-square-foot Holy Cross Hall will welcome 110 students and three Resident Assistants. It features lounges, study areas, a community kitchen and other spaces designed for students to pray, study, gather and form lasting friendships.

A chapel inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe will be completed this fall.

2. The incoming class reflects Indiana roots and a growing reach 

The College received 292 deposits from new students. That includes 190 first-year students, along with transfer students and members of the Gateway Program.

Nearly one-third of incoming Holy Cross students come from Indiana, continuing the College’s strong connection to its home state and the communities it has served for 60 years.

At the same time, 68% of incoming students come from outside Indiana, with increased representation from Chicagoland, Ohio and Florida. The class is also 71% Catholic and 32% first-generation students.

Together, these students reflect a community that is grounded in Indiana, expanding its reach and remaining rooted in its Catholic identity.

Final enrollment figures will be available after the fall census.

3. Students are continuing their Holy Cross journeys

Holy Cross begins the year with an overall full-time persistence rate of 86%.

Behind that number are students continuing to pursue their goals and the faculty, advisors, success coaches and staff members who know them personally and help them progress toward graduation.

It is a reflection of the relationships and emphasis on formation that define the Holy Cross experience.

4. Wellness and formation remain priorities

Holy Cross is adding counseling support and developing a peer counseling program. “Cultivating Resilience” will serve as the College’s mental health and wellness theme for the year.

Student programming will also place greater emphasis on formation, life skills and leadership development. These efforts recognize that a Holy Cross education is about more than academic achievement. It is about helping students grow intellectually, personally and spiritually.

Together, these developments reflect a growing College committed to forming students with the competence to see and the courage to act.