Williams College is a highly selective private research university in Williamstown, Massachusetts, enrolling about 2,076 students. Admission is highly selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 8.25% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $88,665 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $68,560
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $17,716 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 8.25% Highly Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,076 100.0% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 93.61%
  • Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
  • First-Generation Students: 21.5%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 44.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 87.7%
  • Average SAT Score: 1533
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,292
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 11,465
  • Room & Board: $17,260 annual estimate

Williams College: what the data shows

Common questions about Williams College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Williams College?

Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (ZIP 01267).

NCES locale classification: Town fringe.

Is Williams College public or private?

Williams College is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Williams College cost?

Published tuition: $68,560.

Average net price after aid: $17,716.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$-2,610
$30,001–$48,000$-1,727
$48,001–$75,000$-1,978
$75,001–$110,000$3,030
$110,001+$49,594

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $274,240.

How hard is it to get into Williams College?

Admission rate: 8.25%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1533.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Williams College?

Total enrollment: 2,076 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,292 students.

Graduate enrollment: 49 students.

About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Williams College?

150%-time completion rate: 93.61%.

First-year retention: 96.9%.

What do graduates of Williams College earn?

Median earnings: $71,754 six years after entry; $88,665 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $12,761.

17.61% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Williams College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Williams College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 8.25%; completion rate 93.61%; median earnings $88,665 at 10 years; net price $17,716. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$68,560
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Williams College was $68,560.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$17,716
2024 Value

In 2024 Williams College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,716.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$70,864 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$17,716 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$274,240 4-Year Tuition

$17,260 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$86,820 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$347,280 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Williams College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

17.61% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

4.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Williams College was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Williams College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$46,600$46,600$20,935
2014$48,310$48,310$21,762
2015$50,070$50,070$23,924
2016$51,790$51,790$21,102
2017$53,550$53,550$22,667
2018$55,450$55,450$21,239
2019$57,280$57,280$19,480
2020$50,450$50,450$23,497
2021$59,660$59,660$14,739
2022$61,770$61,770$26,775
2023$64,860$64,860$14,852

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

8.25% Acceptance Rate

11,465 Total Applicants

1,145 Students Admitted

541 First-Time Students Enrolled

47.25% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1533

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0

Estimated Median GPA: 4.00

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Williams College reported total enrollment of about 2,076 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (46.6%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%), and Asian (12.5%). About 17.61% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 21.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

100.0% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Williams College in 2024 is 2,076 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,292 students. Graduate enrollment is about 49 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

96.9%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 46.6%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

71.24% 100% Completion Time

93.61% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 71.24% of students graduating from Williams College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 71% male / 29% female
  • Computer Science: 68% male / 32% female
  • Mathematics, General: 77% male / 23% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Williams College.

Return on Investment

$12,761 Median Student Debt

$88,665 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

14.39% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

1151.20% Return on Investment

1.4 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Williams College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 39 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 100 completions

2. Computer Science: 63 completions

3. Mathematics, General: 62 completions

4. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 52 completions

5. Experimental Psychology: 51 completions

6. English Language and Literature, General: 42 completions

7. History, General: 36 completions

8. Development Economics and International Development: 30 completions

9. Art/Art Studies, General: 29 completions

Most popular programs at Williams College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Williams College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Williams College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 87.7%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $15,317
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $51,880

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Williams College is a private non-profit institution located in Williamstown, MA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics, General. Enrollment is approximately 2,076 students. Student body composition includes White (46.6%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%), Asian (12.5%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 8.25%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1533. The 150%-time completion rate is 93.61%. Approximately 17.61% of students receive Pell Grants. About 21.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields

Location

Williamstown, MA 01267

Region: New England

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 93.61% graduation rate, Williams College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Strong Career Outcomes: Williams College graduates report median earnings of $88,665 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Williams College located?

Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA.

What is Williams College's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Williams College is 8.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 11,465 applicants and 1,145 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Williams College cost?

Reported tuition is $68,560 and average net price is $17,716 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,260 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Williams College?

Williams College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,292 students, White (46.6%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Williams College?

About 21.5% of students at Williams College are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Williams College?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Williams College reports midpoint SAT about 1533.

What do graduates of Williams College earn?

Median earnings are $71,754 six years after entry and $88,665 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Williams College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 93.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Williams College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $12,761.

Is Williams College public or private?

Williams College is a private nonprofit institution located in Williamstown, MA.

Is Williams College an HBCU?

No. Williams College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Williams College a tribal college?

No. Williams College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • New England regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Massachusetts
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.