Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Northeast
- Acceptance rate
- 8.3%
- SAT mid-50
- 1490-1570
- Cost after aid
- $17,716
- Graduation rate
- 94%
What Williams College says matters
How Williams College rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.
- Acceptance rate
- 5.2%
- 47 of 904
- Yield
- 4.3%
- 2 enrolled
- SAT mid-50
- 1490-1550
- ACT mid-50
- 33-35
- CDS year
- 2025-26
Acceptance rate by gender
- Men
- 8.5%628 of 7,368
- Women
- 9.1%661 of 7,248
Very important
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Recommendations
- Character or personal qualities
Important
- Application essay
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- First generation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
- Standardized test scores
- Alumni relation
- Geographical residence
- Religious affiliation or commitment
Not considered
- Interview
- State residency
- Level of applicant's interest
The full Common Data Set
Every figure Williams College published for 2025-26, section by section.
First-Time, First-Year Admission101
Entrance Exams
- AP
- X
- Institutional Exam
- X
Applications
- Total first-time, first-year males who applied
- 7,368
- Total first-time, first-year females who applied
- 7,248
- Total first-time, first-year students of unknown sex who applied
- 904
- Total first-time, first-year males who were admitted
- 628
- Total first-time, first-year females who were admitted
- 661
- Total first-time, first-year students of unknown sex who were admitted
- 47
- Total first-time, first-year males who enrolled
- 286
- Total first-time, first-year females who enrolled
- 279
- Total first-time, first-year students of unknown sex who enrolled
- 2
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year males who enrolled
- 286
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year males who enrolled
- 0
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year females who enrolled
- 279
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year females who enrolled
- 0
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year students of unknown sex who enrolled
- 2
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year students of unknown sex who enrolled
- 0
- Total first-time, first-year students who applied
- 15,520
- Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
- 1,336
- Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled
- 567
Wait List
- Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
- 2,193
- Number accepting a place on the waiting list:
- 850
- Number of wait-listed students admitted:
- 25
Admissions Requirements
- Total academic units
- 4
- Mathematics
- 4
- Science
- 4
- Of these, units that must be lab
- 3
- Foreign language
- 4
- Social studies
- 4
Basis for Selection
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Considered
- Application Essay
- Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Very Important
- Interview
- Not Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Important
- Talent/ability
- Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Very Important
- First generation
- Important
- Alumni/ae relation
- Considered
- Geographical residence
- Considered
- State residency
- Not Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Considered
- Volunteer work
- Important
- Work experience
- Important
- Level of applicant’s interest
- Not Considered
First-time, first-year Profile
- Percent Submitting SAT Scores
- 43%
- Percent Submitting ACT Scores
- 18%
- Number Submitting SAT Scores
- 242
- Number Submitting ACT Scores
- 104
- SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 1,490
- SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 1,520
- SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 1,550
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile
- 740
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile
- 750
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile
- 770
- SAT Math: 25th Percentile
- 740
- SAT Math: 50th Percentile
- 770
- SAT Math: 75th Percentile
- 790
- ACT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 34%
- ACT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 35%
- ACT Math: 25th Percentile
- 30%
- ACT Math: 50th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT Math: 75th Percentile
- 35%
- ACT English: 25th Percentile
- 34%
- ACT English: 50th Percentile
- 35%
- ACT English: 75th Percentile
- 36%
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-800
- 94.21
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-699
- 5.79
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Total
- 100
- SAT Math: 700-800
- 95.87
- SAT Math: 600-699
- 2.89
- SAT Math: 500-599
- 1.24
- SAT Math: Total
- 100
- SAT Composite: 1400-1600
- 96.28
- SAT Composite: 1200-1399
- 3.72
- SAT Composite: Total
- 100
- ACT Composite: 30-36
- 99.04
- ACT Composite: 24-29
- 0.96
- ACT Composite: Total
- 100
- Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class
- 88%
- Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class
- 97%
- Percent in top half of high school graduating class
- 99%
- Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:
- 74%
Admission Policies
- Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
- Yes
- Yes, by:
- X
- Date: Month
- 4
- Date: Day
- 1
- Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD):Month
- 5
- Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD): Day
- 1
- Amount of housing deposit:
- 200
- Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?
- Yes
- Number of early decision applications received by your institution
- 964
- Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan
- 256
Transfer Admission6
Application for Admission
- High school transcript
- Required of Some
- College transcript(s)
- Required of All
- Essay or personal statement
- Not Required
- Interview
- Not Required
- Standardized test scores
- Not Required
- Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)
- Not Required
Academic Offerings and Policies9
Special Study Options
- Double major
- X
- Independent study
- X
- Student-designed major
- X
- Study abroad
- X
- Other (specify):
- X
Required Course Work
- Physical Education
- X
- Humanities
- X
- Social science
- X
- Other (describe):
- X
Student Life41
Percent Participating
- Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
- 87%
- Percent of males who join fraternities
- 0
- Percent of females who join sororities
- 0
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 100%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 20%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 20%
- Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
- 86%
- Percent of males who join fraternities
- 0
- Percent of females who join sororities
- 0
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 93%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 7.0%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 100%
Average Age
- Average age of full-time students
- 19
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 19
- Average age of full-time students
- 20
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 20
Activities Offered
- Campus Ministries
- X
- Choral groups
- X
- Concert band
- X
- Dance
- X
- Drama/theater
- X
- International Student Organization
- X
- Jazz band
- X
- Literary magazine
- X
- Marching band
- X
- Model UN
- X
- Music ensembles
- X
- Musical theater
- X
- Opera
- X
- Pep band
- X
- Radio station
- X
- Student government
- X
- Student newspaper
- X
- Student-run film society
- X
- Symphony orchestra
- X
- Yearbook
- X
Housing
- Coed residence halls
- X
- Apartments for married students
- X
- Special housing for disabled students
- X
- Cooperative housing
- X
- Theme housing
- X
Annual Expenses1
Estimated Expenses
- Other expenses:
- 1850
Financial Aid39
Students Awarded Non-need-based Aid
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 0
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 0
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 0
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
Reporting Year
- Academic Year
- 2025-2026 estimated
Need-based Aid Awarded
- Federal
- 2902541
- State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
- 160900
- Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
- 89497403
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 1425354
- Total Scholarships/Grants
- 93986198
- Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
- 0
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 0
- Total Self-Help
- 0
- Parent Loans
- 0
Non-need-based Aid Awarded
- Federal
- 0
- State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
- 0
- Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
- 0
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 1455482
- Total Scholarships/Grants
- 1455482
- Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
- 1379984
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 0
- Total Self-Help
- 1379984
- Parent Loans
- 1877489
Graduating Cohort
- Provide the number of students in the 2024 undergraduate class who started at your institution as first-time students and received a bachelor's degree between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exclude students who transferred into your institution.
- 565
Source Type Loan
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 101
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 10
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 12
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 18
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 2
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 2
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 10605
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 3925
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 54362
Aid to Nonresidents
- Institutional need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
- X
- Average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents:
- 94,807
- Total dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents:
- 11,661,308
Aid Available
- College/university scholarship or grant aid from institutional funds
- X
Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred18
Diploma/Certificates
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Associate
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Bachelors
- Natural resources and conservation
- 3.4
- Area, ethnic, and gender studies
- 3.8
- Computer and information sciences
- 8.1
- Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
- 6.5
- English
- 6.7
- Biological/life sciences
- 5.9
- Mathematics and statistics
- 9.9
- Military science and military technologies
- 28
- Interdisciplinary studies
- 0.4
- Philosophy and religious studies
- 3.1
- Physical sciences
- 7.1
- Psychology
- 8.1
- Social sciences
- 23.1
- Visual and performing arts
- 7.2
- History
- 6.7
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 100%
Enrollment And Persistence108
Institutional Enrollment
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: males
- 297
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: males
- 5
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 698
- Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: males
- 1,000
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 2
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: males
- 0
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: females
- 285
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: females
- 0
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 750
- Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: females
- 1,035
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 9
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: females
- 0
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: Unknown
- 2
- All other degree-seeking: Unknown
- 0
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: Unknown
- 0
- Grand Total All Students
- 2,150
Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category
- Nonresidents
- 60
- Hispanic/Latino
- 79
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 28
- White, non-Hispanic
- 252
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 85
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 36
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 44
- TOTAL
- 584
- Nonresidents
- 191
- Hispanic/Latino
- 317
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 127
- White, non-Hispanic
- 898
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 2
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 271
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 150
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 111
- TOTAL
- 100
- Nonresidents
- 196
- Hispanic/Latino
- 317
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 129
- White, non-Hispanic
- 920
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 2
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 272
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 153
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 112
- TOTAL
- 0
Graduation Rates
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 102
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 43
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 402
- Total
- 547
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 102
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 43
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 402
- Total
- 547
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 85
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 35
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 313
- Total
- 433
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 12
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 6
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 61
- Total
- 79
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 2
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 7
- Total
- 9
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 99
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 41
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 381
- Total
- 521
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 97.1
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 95.3
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 94.8
- Total
- 95.2
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 106
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 35
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 392
- Total
- 533
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0
- Total
- 1
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 105
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 35
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 392
- Total
- 532
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 9
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 89
- Total
- 114
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 4
- Total
- 5
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 98
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 33
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 367
- Total
- 498
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 93.3
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 94.3
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 93.6
- Total
- 93.6
- 2022 Cohort
- 0
- 2021 Cohort
- 0
Retention Rates
- Calculate the percentage of the Fall 2024 entering cohort who remained enrolled on the official census date.
- 97%
Instructional Faculty And Class Size48
Instructional Faculty
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 300
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 100
- C. Total number who are females
- 142
- D. Total number who are males
- 158
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 15
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 298
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 1
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 1
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 1
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 59
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 19
- C. Total number who are females
- 32
- D. Total number who are males
- 27
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 4
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 45%
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 8
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 3
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 3
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 7
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 359
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 119
- C. Total number who are females
- 174
- D. Total number who are males
- 185
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 19
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 343
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 9
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 4
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 3
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 8
Student to Faculty Ratio
- based on ____ students
- 2,078
- and ____ faculty
- 316
Undergraduate Class Size
- 2-9
- 198
- 10-19
- 198
- 20-29
- 200
- 30-39
- 61
- 40-49
- 31
- 50-99
- 26
- 100+
- 11
- Total
- 1
- 2-9
- 33
- 10-19
- 33
- 20-29
- 62
- 30-39
- 19
- 40-49
- 0
- 50-99
- 0
- 100+
- 0
- Total
- 0
About Williams College
Williams College is a very small private university in Williamstown, MA, in a city setting.
What Williams College looks for
Williams College accepts roughly 8%, which means a strong application is necessary but not sufficient. Most admitted students are at or above the mid-50 in test scores and have at least one extracurricular thread that AOs read as substantive. The supplements matter. The "why us" essay is where many otherwise-strong applications fall apart, because it reads as a Mad Libs of the school's website rather than a real plan.
Frequently asked
What SAT score do I need for Williams College?
Williams College's middle 50% SAT range is 1490 to 1570. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.
What ACT score do I need for Williams College?
Middle 50% ACT range is 34 to 35. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.
What is the acceptance rate at Williams College?
Williams College admits roughly 8% of applicants. That makes it a reach for nearly everyone, regardless of stats.
What does Williams College actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $17,716 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is Williams College a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Williams College as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.
