Cornell College vs Williams College
Cornell College and Williams College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Cornell, a liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, boasts a 98% acceptance rate, while Williams, a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, has a highly selective 13% acceptance rate. Cornell's student body is more diverse, with 42% students of color compared to Williams' 36%. Both colleges excel in academics, with Cornell's popular majors including biology, psychology, and business administration, and Williams' popular majors including economics, English, and history. Cornell's graduation rate is 78%, while Williams' is slightly higher at 94%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional colleges and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Cornell College |
![]() Williams College |
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Overview |
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Location | Mount Vernon, Iowa | Williamstown, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Town: Fringe | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 78.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.1% | 8.8% |
Application fees | $30 | $65 |
SAT range | 1155 - 1405 | N/A |
ACT range | 24 - 30 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 58.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,836 | 12,452 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,300 | 1,099 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 366 | 574 |
Yield rate | 15.9% | 52.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,735 | $78,060 |
Average net price | $22,667 | $14,487 |
Tuition | $47,100 | $59,350 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,868
Meal plan:
$5,688
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Room/dormitory:
$7,625
Meal plan:
$7,375
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $37,745 |
52.0%
Average amount $52,053 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,607 |
13.0%
Average amount $3,992 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $9,357 |
2.0%
Average amount $3,884 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,046
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
2,174
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
Graduate students |
9
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
50
Men 44.0% Women 56.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.0% | 9.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Fringe | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,060 | 2,045 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 63.8% | 93.8% |
Dropout rate | 10.9% | 3.1% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | 1.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
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