William & Mary
#1 Best Online Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 90% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $73,490 A
- Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $19,096 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 34% A
- Admits roughly 34% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,693,128.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 80% more than the national college median.
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A 90% graduation rate — 58% above the national average.
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A top feeder school for 8 major employers.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 46%
- Patents
- 34
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #75
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 8
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 178
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Education
Why William & Mary Matters
William & Mary is a public research university in Williamsburg, VA ranked #75 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 7,055
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose William & Mary
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 34% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1400–1530. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,096 a year after grants and scholarships — 11% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $73,490 ten years after enrolling — 80% above the typical college, against $18,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 96% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.80 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 7,055 students and an acceptance rate of 34%, William & Mary is a solid choice for those who value a strong academic community. The school's emphasis on Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Physical Sciences means students will find themselves engaged in a diverse range of studies. The impressive 90% graduation rate speaks to the supportive environment that helps students succeed.
Looking ahead, graduates from William & Mary can expect to earn an average of $73,490 a decade after finishing their degrees. That’s a significant figure that indicates a good return on investment. While the data doesn’t specify mobility rates, the financial stability that comes with such earnings suggests that many graduates are able to build fulfilling careers and improve their economic circumstances over time.
When it comes to the practicalities, the net price after financial aid is around $19,096, with a median debt load of $18,500. This manageable debt can make a big difference for graduates as they start their careers. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a common drive to succeed in their chosen fields, making the most of the opportunities available at this institution.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective William & Mary is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into William & Mary? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Williamsburg, Virginia, William & Mary reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,473. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1473
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1400–1530
- ACT Range
- 32–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 79%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,942
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 13%
- Applicants
- 18,087
- Admitted
- 6,059
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William & Mary? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William & Mary is $51,038, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,096. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,106 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $25,914
- Out-of-State
- $51,038
- Avg Net Price
- $19,096
- Median Debt
- $18,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 12%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,106
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $881
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,916
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,370
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at William & Mary — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is William & Mary Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William & Mary earn a median of $73,490, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $62,959
- 8 Years
- $67,721
- 10 Years
- $73,490
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,277)
- 85%
- 100% (1,277)
- 85%
- 100% (1,277)
- 85%
- 100% (1,277)
- 85%
Where Grads Go
William & Mary is a top feeder for:
- #2 Wells Fargo
- #2 AT&T
- #2 ScottMadden
- #2 BlackRock
- #3 EY-Parthenon
- #3 Visa
- #5 Accenture
- #6 Bank of America
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of William & Mary’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Accenture ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2023
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2023
- Arcadis ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- AT&T ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Bank of America ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
- BlackRock ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Booz Allen Hamilton Inc ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2023
- CohnReznick LLP ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- CoStar Group ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- EY-Parthenon ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2023
- Goldman Sachs ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
- JPMorgan Chase ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
- KPMG LLP ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Northrop Grumman Corporation ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Piper Sandler ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Red Ventures ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- S&P Global ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- ScottMadden ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- The Hershey Company ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- TOWNEBANK ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
- Truist Bank ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
- Visa ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Volvo Group North America ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2023
- Wells Fargo ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2023
How William Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is William & Mary Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, William & Mary delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,096/year ($76,384 total). Graduates earn $73,490 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,769,512 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,693,128 (23.2× your investment). The median debt is $18,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 90% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $76,384
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,769,512
- Net Return
- $1,693,128
- ROI Multiple
- 23.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,096
- Median Debt
- $18,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 90%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does William & Mary Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William & Mary is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.52%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 1.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $147,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.52%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 38.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 1.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $199,857
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is William & Mary? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places William & Mary at #75 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 36/100, teaching at 53/100, and citation impact of 96/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #75
- Teaching
- 53.1
- Research
- 36.1
- Citations
- 95.6
- International
- 20.9
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
William & Mary produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 34 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 36/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.50%
- Top 46% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 34
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 178
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 96/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $60,797
Top Programs
The fields William & Mary awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 20%
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 12%
- Psychology 9% $37,566 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Physical Sciences 7%
- English & Literature 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for William & Mary's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into William & Mary? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Williamsburg, Virginia, William & Mary reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,473. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William & Mary? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William & Mary is $51,038, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,096. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,106 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,500 in federal student loans.
Is William & Mary Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William & Mary earn a median of $73,490, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does William & Mary Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William & Mary is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.52%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 1.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $147,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is William & Mary? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William & Mary. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is William & Mary? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places William & Mary at #75 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 36/100, teaching at 53/100, and citation impact of 96/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to William & Mary.
- University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · Close peer84% grad $74,915 earn 33% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer90% grad $78,158 earn 22% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · Close peer91% grad $80,137 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The College of New JerseyEwing, NJ · Close peer86% grad $73,323 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · Close peer77% grad $74,502 earn 49% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC · Close peer74% grad $72,085 earn 23% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is William & Mary? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William & Mary. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note