Williams College

Williams College

(Williams)

At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.

Williams College is consistently ranked the number one liberal arts college in the United States, located in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. Its tutorial-based teaching model, where two students work one-on-one with a professor, creates an exceptionally rigorous and personal academic experience.

Mascot: Eph

Notable Alumni

James A. Garfield (20th U.S. President)Stephen Sondheim (legendary Broadway composer)Elia Kazan (Oscar-winning film director)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
9%
SAT (Optional)
1430–1550
Avg GPA
3.94
Enrollment
2.1K
Setting
Rural
Founded
1793

Cost

Tuition$63K
Room & Board$16K
Est. Annual Total$79K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

#1 liberal arts college
Tutorial-based teaching
Williams College Museum of Art

Athletics

Division
NCAA Division 3
Conference
New England Small College Athletic Conference
View on NCAA.com

Safety

Campus SafetyVery Safe

Williams College Campus Safety Services monitors the campus 24/7 with bike patrols, escort services, and building access control. Violent crime is essentially nonexistent on the small campus.

Neighborhood SafetyVery Safe

Williamstown is a tiny rural town in the Berkshire Mountains with a violent crime rate far below national averages. Safer than 84% of U.S. cities.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

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