Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
William & Mary admits about 1 in 3 applicants (37%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 91% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$75 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Women were admitted at 32%, men at 37%.
Yield
26% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 4,085 offered a place, 1,901 accepted, 103 admitted (5.4% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 50% admitted
735 of 1,477 early applicants; 37% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 1
Second round: apply by Jan 5; decisions by Feb 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How William & Mary reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. This college reports (average 4.34), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are. Scores are optional. 48% of first-years sent an SAT and 14% an ACT. Of the 30% whose high school reported a rank, 79% were in the top tenth. The major you list . Recommends 4 years of math and science. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Very important | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Very important | ||||
| Work experience | Very important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
46% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 37% of first-year applicants
963 applied · 440 admitted · 206 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by March 1, decisions by May 1, reply by May 15
- Spring entry: apply by November 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 5 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are released April 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $350 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 2 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3) | 4 |
| Foreign language | 4 |
| Social studies | 4 |
| Total | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 4.34, weighted
This average gives extra points for honors and AP courses, so it runs above 4.0 and can't be compared with an unweighted GPA.
From the 88% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
At colleges with a weighted average, the “4.0” band seems to hold every GPA of 4.0 or more.
- 4.089%
- 3.75–3.997%
- 3.50–3.743%
- 3.25–3.491%
- 3.00–3.240%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 4.0–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 88.9% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 7.2% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 3.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.8% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
79% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 95% in the top quarter, of the 30% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:William & Mary Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1455 on the SAT, 285 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an ACT (99%) scored 30 or higher.
86% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
66% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (95%) scored 30 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 14% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 48% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
781 studentssubmitted ACT
233 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:William & Mary Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;William & Mary Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;William & Mary Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;William & Mary, most recent release;William & Mary Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)