Overview of Williams College

Situated in northwestern Massachusetts, Williams College is a prestigious liberal arts college with a 13% acceptance rate. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to select from. Students are supported by a 6 to 1 student/faculty ratio, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. The college has a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honors society For its liberal arts and sciences accomplishments.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,127 (2,073 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 52 percent male/48 percent female
• 97 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $57,280
• Books: $800
• Room and Board: $14,990
• Other Expenses: $2,450
• Total Cost: $75,520

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 63 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 53 percent
  • Loans: 24 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $48,763
  • Loans: $4,419

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; Mathematics, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Political Science and Government, General; and History, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students):99 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 90 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 95 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Squash
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Crew-Rowing, Golf, Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Squash

Overview of Williams College Admissions

Williams College sends out a lot more rejections than acceptances. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps. Students should make a campus visit to determine if the institution is a good fit for them.

Admissions Data                        

For students who entered Williams College in the 2018-19 academic year, Williams College had a 13% acceptance rate. For every 100 students who apply, 87 receive rejection letters. The school has an extremely selective admissions procedure.

SAT Requirements and Scores

For students who entered the college in the 2018-19 academic year, 57% provided SAT scores. When we look at national SAT score data, we can see that most Williams students rank within the top 7% of all test-takers. The middle 50% of students scored between 710 and 760 on the evidence-based reading and writing part. This reveals that 25% scored 710 or lower, and another 25% scored 760 or higher. Over 80% of students scored 700 or higher. The middle 50% of students scored between 700 and 790 on the math part. This means 25% scored 700 or lower, and 25% scored either 790 or a perfect 800. Over 76% of students scored 700 or higher. To be most competitive at Williams College, you’ll want a combined SAT score over 1500.

ACT Requirements and Scores

For students entering Williams in the 2018-19 academic year, 59% provided ACT scores. According to national ACT score data, most Williams students ranked among the top 3% of all test-takers. The middle 50% of students scored between 32 and 35. This reveals that 25% scored 32 or lower, and 25% scored 35 or a perfect 36. The college’s median score was 33, and 90.71% of students scored between 30 and 36. To be most competitive for admission to Williams, you’re going to want a score in the mid-30s.

GPA and Class Rank

Your high school GPA will be an essential part of your Williams College application. Williams does not publish the average high school GPA of their students, but you can be sure that the great majority of successful applicants have records that are almost entirely “A” grades.

When it comes to class rank, 89% of students who entered the 2018-19 academic year were in the upper 10% of their high school class. 97% were in the top 25%, and all the students were in the top half.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Williams College, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Williams College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Boston College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Villanova University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Williams College, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Cornell University, University of Notre Dame, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, Boston University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Williams College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Chicago, Harvard College, Washington University in St. Louis, Northwestern University, Brown University

Applying to Williams College

Application Deadline: January 1

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/apply/apply-now/

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.williams.edu/academics/graduate-programs/     

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://gradart.williams.edu/apply/