Williams College
#1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges- Graduation Rate
- 95% A+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $88,665 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,716 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 8% A+
- Rejects about 92 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 32.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $32.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Liberal Arts Colleges.
Every $1 spent returns $32.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,247,807.
What The Data Says
-
A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 117% more than the national college median.
-
A 95% graduation rate — 66% above the national average.
-
Admits just 8% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
-
Every $1 invested returns $32.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Williams College Matters
Williams College is a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,076
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Williams College
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
Highly selective — admits about 8% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1490–1570. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,716 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $88,665 ten years after enrolling — 117% above the typical college, against $12,761 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 8%, Williams College tends to attract highly motivated students who are ready to engage deeply in their studies. This school is ideal for those interested in social sciences, computer science, biology, physical sciences, and mathematics. The small enrollment of just over 2,000 students creates an intimate learning environment where personalized attention from faculty is the norm. It’s a place where students can explore their passions and develop critical thinking skills that are essential for success.
Looking at what graduates achieve, the earnings after ten years stand at an impressive $88,665. This number reflects the strong career pathways that Williams alumni typically follow. Graduates often find themselves in rewarding positions that not only offer financial stability but also align with their academic interests. The combination of a high graduation rate at 95% and a reasonable net price of $17,716 makes it a compelling choice for students who want to make a lasting impact in their fields.
When considering the cost, students generally graduate with a median debt of $12,761, which is manageable for the earning potential they have after leaving. This financial landscape makes Williams accessible to a diverse group of students, including those who qualify for Pell Grants at a rate of 18%. Students who thrive here are often those who seek a rigorous academic challenge and value the close-knit community, ready to invest in their future while embracing the support that comes with it.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Williams College 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 Williams College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Williams College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Retention Rate
- 97%
- SAT Average
- 1533
- SAT Range
- 1490–1570
- ACT Range
- 34–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 88%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $15,317
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 6:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 15,321
- Admitted
- 1,302
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Williams College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 42% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 42%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 43%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 18%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 26.6%
- vs 8.6% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 964 Early Decision applicants, 256 were admitted — a 26.6% admit rate, roughly 3.1× the 8.6% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 45% of the entering class (256 of 567 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 61% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Williams College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Williams College is $68,560, 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 $17,716. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $12,761 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,560
- Out-of-State
- $68,560
- Avg Net Price
- $17,716
- Median Debt
- $12,761
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-2,610
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $-1,727
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $-1,978
- Family Income $110K+
- $49,594
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 Williams College — 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 Williams College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Williams College earn a median of $88,665, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $71,754
- 8 Years
- $79,082
- 10 Years
- $88,665
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.14x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (486)
- 89%
- 100% (486)
- 89%
- 100% (486)
- 89%
- 100% (486)
- 89%
How Williams 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 Williams College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Williams College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,716/year ($70,864 total). Graduates earn $88,665 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,318,671 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,247,807 (32.7× your investment). The median debt is $12,761, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 95% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,864
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,318,671
- Net Return
- $2,247,807
- ROI Multiple
- 32.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,716
- Median Debt
- $12,761
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
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 Williams College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Williams College 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 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $184,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 30.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $249,992
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,951,557
- Investment Income
- $-471,485,353
Top Programs
The fields Williams College 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 24% $90,849 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11% $114,284 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $45,495 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $40,390 early-career
- Physical Sciences 8% $30,329 early-career
- English & Literature 7% $48,075 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 7% $78,241 early-career
- Psychology 7% $41,235 early-career
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 Williams College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- 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
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Williams College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Williams College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Williams College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Williams College is $68,560, 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 $17,716. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $12,761 in federal student loans.
Is Williams College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Williams College earn a median of $88,665, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Williams College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Williams College 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 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $184,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Williams College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Williams College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Williams College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Williams College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 27%, about 3.1 times the overall 9% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 45% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Williams College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Williams College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 61% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Williams College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Williams College?
About 42% of admitted students choose to enroll at Williams College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Williams College.
- Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, ME · Close peer95% grad $82,735 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · Close peer89% grad $80,490 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · Close peer91% grad $81,400 earn 13% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Close peer94% grad $77,644 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · Close peer94% grad $94,810 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer93% grad $77,779 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Williams College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Williams College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note