Pepperdine’s affiliation is Churches of Christ. ND is Churches of the Holy Cross. BC and GU, as Jesuit schools, have an interest in faith, as well as strong drive to educate. Take a look at how different “Catholic” schools (or others with a religious grounding) frame their Mission Statements.
Georgetown: “University Mission Statement. … Established in 1789 in the spirit of the new republic, the university was founded on the principle that serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs promotes intellectual, ethical and spiritual understanding.”
One difference between BC and GU is the former was founded to educate Catholics, in an area that’s still quite Catholic, both in numbers and as a frame of reference. (I think anyone in the Boston areas sees this.) While GU is in one of the most international cities in the US.
Both are comfortable for many kids. So what if there are crucifixes?