What makes Williams different
- Tutorials. Small Oxford-style tutorials pair two students with a professor to debate each other's papers.
- Winter Study. A January term for one focused course, project or trip.
- The Berkshires. A rural campus in the mountains of western Massachusetts.
What Williams students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): econometrics and quantitative economics (76), computer science (56), biology (50), english language and literature (37), mathematics (29) and art/art studies (28). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Williams if…
- You want close work with professors.
- You love the outdoors and a small town.
- You're drawn to economics, math, the sciences or art history.
Worth asking about
- How do tutorials work in my field?
- What do students do during Winter Study?
How Williams compares with other liberal arts colleges
Williams admitted 8.2% of applicants for fall 2024 and is one of seven NESCAC colleges in this group. See how these 20 liberal arts colleges compare.
FAQ
What is Williams College's acceptance rate? 8.2% for fall 2024: 1,272 of 15,411 applicants were admitted.
Does Williams have early decision? Yes. Williams offers binding early decision; if admitted, you withdraw other applications. Source
Does Williams require the SAT or ACT? No. Williams is test-optional, and you can change your choice until your decision plan's deadline. If you do send scores, Williams superscores the SAT and ACT. This applies to students applying in 2026–27 for fall 2027. Source
Does Williams charge out-of-state tuition? No. Williams is private, so published tuition and fees are the same for students from any state: $68,560 a year before aid. About 77% of first-year students came from outside Massachusetts.
How much is Williams tuition per semester? About $34,280 a semester, half the published $68,560 a year, before aid.
How many students go to Williams? About 2,100 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is Williams known for? Tutorials, Winter Study and its Berkshires setting.
How much does Williams cost? Published tuition and fees are $68,560 a year before aid, and the total cost of attendance is $84,860. Students who received aid paid $26,775 a year on average.
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