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Williams College

Private

Williamstown, MA

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Williams College is a private small school in Williamstown, MA, enrolling about 2,076 undergraduates. It's highly selective, admitting about 8% of applicants. Among reported majors, Computer Science shows the strongest outcomes -- $209,574/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing is mandatory here.

Admissions

Admit rate8%
SAT range1490–1570
ACT range34–35
Undergrads2,076
Yield (admits who enroll)44%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$84,860
4-year grad rate95%
Median earnings, 10yr out$88,665

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Williams College's numbers?

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How Williams College weighs your application

From Williams College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationImportant
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationConsidered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans5%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out81%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Area Studies$43,501/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$65,357/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$209,574/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$69,065/yr
History
History$59,535/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$134,304/yr
Physical Sciences
Chemistry$51,050/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$72,891/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$166,678/yr
Political Science and Government$88,339/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Fine and Studio Arts$55,012/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity2,173
Typical room charge$7,900
Typical board charge$7,630

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Williams College look for in applicants?

Per Williams College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, recommendations, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Williams College's acceptance rate?

Williams College in Williamstown, MA admits approximately 8% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Williams College?

Admitted students at Williams College typically score between 1490–1570 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Williams College?

Admitted students at Williams College typically score between 34–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Williams College cost?

Williams College's total cost of attendance is reported at $84,860 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Williams College?

Williams College's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Williams College require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Williams College requires students to live in on-campus housing.

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