Quad

Williams College

Williamstown, MAQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 12 applicants admitted

Williams admits about 1 in 12 applicants (8.3%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 98% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

8.3%

8.3%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

15,411

Admitted

1,272

Yield

43%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1490–1570

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836
Applications +144% since fall 2014 · admit rate 19% → 8.3%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,076 undergrads, where 18% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

2.1K

undergrads · larger than 58% of colleges

Diversity index

0.73

Pell Grant

18%

below the median

First generation

22%

below the median

Town near a cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · New England Small College Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.65 → 0.73 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (17% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 88% of faculty are full-time. Spends $51,880 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

17% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$209.6K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

88%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$51.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $47,891 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $23.6K more than the national median. The 54% who received grants paid $15,894 on average; the other 46% paid the full sticker price of $84,860.

44%

$47.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $23.6K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$84,860 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
None
all grants are need-based
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 44% of full price

Federal loans

5%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −12% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $88,665 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 96% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

96%

96%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$88.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$12.8K

≈ $135/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 95% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 12%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 144% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 19% to 8.3%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −12% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +144%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 19% → 8%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.65 → 0.73

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Macalester College

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Smith College

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Williams College (2026–27)

    Williams College · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 168342 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything