Overview
Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, consistently ranks as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Known for its tutorial system, similar to Oxford, Williams has notable alumni such as James A. Garfield and Elia Kazan.
There are currently 2,060 undergraduates at Williams and the school’s acceptance rate is 10%. The tuition at Williams is $64,860.
Liberal Arts
Town
Need Blind
SupplementalEssay
100% Need
QuestBridge
Scholarships & Financial Aid
$84,860
$70,008
$14,852
Cost Breakdown
Estimated Cost:
$84,860The sticker price at Williams is $84,860. This includes the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The cost of attendance can vary from year to year and will typically rise over your four years in college. That said, colleges will recalculate your financial aid every year to take price increases and changes in your financial situation into account.
College costs can look different for every student based on their financial situation. To get a more accurate picture of what tuition at Williams would look like for you, try entering your financial information into their Net Price Calculator.
Williams College Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid at Williams you’ll need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the CSS Profile.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile use financial information from the prior, prior year. That means you can submit the forms even if you or your parents haven’t filed last year’s taxes.
The FAFSA code for Williams is 002229 and the CSS Profile Code is 3965.
The FAFSA is completely free, while the CSS Profile charges a fee for each college you send it to. If you have demonstrated financial need, you may qualify for a CSS Profile fee waiver.
If you are looking for more information on how to complete the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, check out these resources:
Using State Grants at Williams
Massachusetts residents who are considering Williams should be sure to look into state grants to help fund your education. Massachusetts has a wide variety of programs, including the need-based tuition waiver program, the MASSGrant, the Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant Program, and MCAS Scholarships. The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, which is for students who performed well on the MCAS, offers a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of public school.
Apply to these scholarships due soon
See more Massachusetts scholarshipsWilliams College QuestBridge Scholarships
Williams is a member of QuestBridge, which is a prestigious scholarship program that supports high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. Students who are “matched” to Williams College through QuestBridge receive a four year, full ride scholarship to the school. If you are interested in learning more about QuestBridge, you can check out our QuestBridge Scholarship guide.
Williams College’s 100% Need-Met Guarantee
Williams meets 100% of admitted students’ financial need. Using the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, they calculate your need and offer a combination of scholarships and federal loans to cover any costs you and your family cannot pay.
No Loan Policy at Williams
Williams is a no-loan school, which means that their financial aid packages offer students grants and scholarships in place of the federal loans that are typically part of a package. This means that their financial aid is more generous than most, and they help bridge the gap between cost and student need. Some no-loan schools offer this policy for all accepted students while others only extend it to students below a specific income level, or to in-state students. Be sure to check Williams's website for details on their No-Loan policy.
Pell Grants at Williams College
16% of students at Williams College receive Pell Grants.
The federal government awards Pell Grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need by filling out the FAFSA. Students with a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible. Pell Grants do not be repaid. If you receive a Pell Grant, the award amount should remain consistent at any college you gain admission to. You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.
Outside Scholarships
Students can use outside scholarships to supplement their financial aid package at Williams. Outside scholarships are awards offered by private and non-profit organizations separate from their college. To browse vetted, reliable outside scholarships, check out our popular lists:
Williams College Financial Aid Resources
For more information about financial aid at Williams, or for questions that are specific to your financial situation, we recommend that you reach out directly to the financial aid office!
Here’s how you can get in touch:
- Website: https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/financial-aid/
- Email: sfs@williams.edu
- Phone: 413-597-4181
Admissions
10%
Coalition Colleges
Williams is a Coalition Member College, which means they have completed a vigorous vetting process from the Coalition for College to ensure that they “provide substantial support to lower-income, under-resourced and/or first-generation students; offer responsible student financial aid; and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation.” That also means you can apply to Williams via the Coalition Application. The Coalition Application makes it easy to obtain application fee waivers if you qualify. It’s also a great way to discover other colleges that have demonstrated a strong commitment to affordability and strong student outcomes.
Does Williams have a supplemental essay?
Yes, Williams College includes a supplemental essay in their application. Luckily, Scholarships360 has a free guide to help you answer Williams's essay prompt and stand out in the application process.
Williams Supplemental Essay Guide
Is Williams test-optional?
Williams College is test-optional, which means that applicants are permitted, but not required, to submit their standardized test scores. If you choose not to submit your scores, admissions officers will weigh your grades, extracurriculars, essays, and interviews more heavily. If you aren’t sure whether to submit your standardized test scores, Scholarships360’s guide on whether to submit your test scores to test-optional schools can help.
What is the application deadline at Williams?
Early Decision I
Regular Decision
Is Williams College need-blind?
Yes, Williams College has need-blind admissions, which means they do not take financial need into account when they decide who to accept. If your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile indicate that you would need substantial financial aid, you will still be on equal footing with applicants who do not require any aid at all.
Academics
Student/Faculty Ratio
6:1
Graduation Rate
97%
Popular Majors
Percent of Students
Social Sciences
29%
29% of graduates
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
10%
10% of graduates
Computer & Information Sciences
9%
9% of graduates
Physical Sciences
9%
9% of graduates
English Language & Literature
8%
8% of graduates
Visual & Performing Arts
8%
8% of graduates
History
6%
6% of graduates
Psychology
5%
5% of graduates
Mathematics
5%
5% of graduates
Languages & Literatures
5%
5% of graduates
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies
4%
4% of graduates
Natural Resources & Conservation
2%
2% of graduates
Philosophy & Religious Studies
1%
1% of graduates
Student Body
Undergraduate Students
2,060
Pell Grant 17%
Undergrad Students Over 25 1%
Percent Male / Female 49% / 51%
Ethnic Diversity at Williams
47% White
14% Asian / Pacific Islander
14% Hispanic
8% Multiracial
8% International / Non-Citizen
5% Black
4% Unknown
Student Outcomes
Graduate Income
$88,665
Median Debt $12,761
Debt 10 years after graduation $135
Graduation Rate 97%
What is the graduation rate at Williams College?
97% of students who start at Williams College finish their degree within six years of enrolling. This is 39% more than the national median. A higher graduation rate indicates that students have better experiences at an institution.
How much do graduates of Williams College go on to earn?
The median income of students 10 years after starting at Williams College is $88,665. This is $38,274 more than the national median.
This data is from the College Scorecard, which only surveys students from Williams College who received federal financial aid.
Graduate earnings can vary widely based on many factors other than school choice. Major and career path are two important factors in how much a student goes on to earn. For more information, check out Scholarships360’s article on the average starting salary out of college.
How much do students at Williams take out in loans?
Graduates of Williams take out a median of $12,761 in federal student loans. As you make decisions about your college loans, be sure to inform yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of each loan option. Scholarships360’s guide to navigating these different options is a great place to start.
Data Sources
We strive to provide users with the most up-to-date information and source data from publicly available sources, including the College Scorecard and directly from the colleges. College statistics can change throughout the year, but we do our best to update them as quickly as possible. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.
If you represent Williams College and would like to make any corrections or supplement your college profile with additional information, you can fill out our free Premium Profile questionnaire here.
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