Williams College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Williams College is a private institution located in Williamstown, Massachusetts and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Williams College admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 9%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1520. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,716 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Williams College?

Successful applicants to Williams College typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What does Williams College weight in admissions?

Williams College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Williams College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 750–790, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 34–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Williams College actually cost?

Published tuition is $68,560 for in-state students and $68,560 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,260 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,716 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Williams College

Will my child graduate from Williams College?

These predict outcomes at Williams College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Williams College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Williams College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Williams College confers roughly 481 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $150,862 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Williams College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Williams College disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Williams College?

About 93% of undergraduates at Williams College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

• Amherst College
  9% acceptance
• Wellesley College
  14% acceptance
• College of the Holy Cross
  18% acceptance
• Mount Holyoke College
  36% acceptance
• Smith College
  21% acceptance
• Berklee College of Music
  44% acceptance
• New England Conservatory of Music
  41% acceptance
• Harvard University
  4% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Williams College