Williams College vs Harvey Mudd College

Williams College and Harvey Mudd College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Williams, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, boasts a lower acceptance rate (12.6%) compared to Harvey Mudd's (14.4%) in Claremont, California. While Williams excels in the social sciences, Harvey Mudd emphasizes STEM fields, reflected in their popular majors. At Williams, economics and political science are prevalent, while Harvey Mudd students often pursue engineering and computer science. Their student bodies also differ: Williams has a slightly larger undergraduate population with a higher percentage of female students, while Harvey Mudd has a more diverse student body in terms of ethnicity. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Williams at 96% and Harvey Mudd at 94%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and determine which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Harvey Mudd College	Williams College
Overview
Location	Claremont, California	Williamstown, Massachusetts
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	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	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	98.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	10.0%	8.8%
Application fees	$70	$65
SAT range	1480 - 1560	N/A
ACT range	34 - 36	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	40.0%
Students submitting ACT score	20.0%
Total number of applicants	4,737	12,452
Total number of admissions given out	473	1,099
Admitted students who chose to enroll	225	574
Yield rate	47.6%	52.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$82,236	$78,060
Average net price	$33,838	$14,487
Tuition	$60,402	$59,350
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,592 Meal plan: $8,741	Room/dormitory: $7,625 Meal plan: $7,375
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	63.0% Average amount $32,188	52.0% Average amount $52,053
Students receiving federal student loan	38.0% Average amount $4,821	13.0% Average amount $3,992
Students taking out private loans	4.0% Average amount $9,820	2.0% Average amount $3,884

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	905 Men 50.3% Women 49.7%	2,174 Men 48.1% Women 51.9%
Graduate students	N/A	50 Men 44.0% Women 56.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	8.5%	9.8%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity	926	2,045
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Computer and Information Science Multidisciplinary Studies Physical Science Biological and Biomedical Sciences	Mathematics and Statistics Visual & Performing Arts Social Sciences Foreign Languages and Literatures Ethnic Studies
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	6:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	94.4%	93.8%
Dropout rate	0.5%	3.1%
Transferred out	4.7%	1.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $118,973 Year 2: $122,038 Year 3: $166,134 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $123,339 Year 2: $142,581 Year 3: $159,657 Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $81,948 Year 2: $81,997 Year 3: $90,517	Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $109,470 Year 2: $96,183 Year 3: $99,047 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,280 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $91,723 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $55,217 Year 2: $53,358 Year 3: $63,034 Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,948 Year 2: $44,384 Year 3: $48,967 History (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,036 Year 2: $49,464 Year 3: $44,771 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $25,993 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $43,402 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $30,135 Year 2: $40,461 Year 3: $41,065 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,760 Year 2: $34,704 Year 3: $37,587 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $41,029 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $26,432 Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $35,668 Year 2: $25,525 Year 3: $14,771

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic focuses of Williams College and Harvey Mudd College?

Williams College is a highly selective liberal arts college with a broad curriculum, emphasizing humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Harvey Mudd College, on the other hand, is a highly selective STEM-focused institution, primarily concentrating on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. While Williams offers a well-rounded education, Harvey Mudd provides an intensive, specialized STEM experience.
How do the campus environments and cultures differ between Williams and Harvey Mudd?

Williams College boasts a classic New England college town setting in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with a strong emphasis on tradition, residential life, and a close-knit community. Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, California, as part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. Harvey Mudd's culture is known for its collaborative, problem-solving approach, while Williams emphasizes a more traditional liberal arts experience.
What are the typical class sizes and student-to-faculty ratios at each college?

Both Williams College and Harvey Mudd College are known for their small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratios, ensuring personalized attention. However, Harvey Mudd often has slightly smaller class sizes due to its specialized STEM focus. Both institutions prioritize close interaction between students and professors.
How do the career services and postgraduate opportunities compare?

Both colleges offer robust career services. Williams College's career services support students pursuing a wide range of fields, including humanities, social sciences, and pre-professional tracks. Harvey Mudd's career services are particularly strong in STEM fields, with a focus on internships, research opportunities, and graduate school placement in science and engineering. Harvey Mudd graduates are highly sought after by tech companies and research institutions.
What is the social life like at Williams and Harvey Mudd?

Williams College offers a traditional liberal arts social scene, with a strong emphasis on residential life, extracurricular activities, and a vibrant campus community. Harvey Mudd, as part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, provides a more integrated social experience, with students often interacting with students from the other Claremont colleges. Social life at Harvey Mudd is often centered around academic clubs, collaborative projects, and the broader Claremont community.
How does the financial aid and tuition compare?

Both Williams College and Harvey Mudd College are committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of admitted students. Both institutions have generous financial aid policies. Tuition costs are comparable, but the actual cost for each student will vary based on individual financial aid packages. It's recommended to check the specific financial aid websites of each college for the most up-to-date information.
What are the key differences in the admissions processes?

Both Williams and Harvey Mudd are highly selective institutions. The admissions processes are similar in that they consider academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. However, Harvey Mudd places a greater emphasis on demonstrated interest and aptitude in STEM fields. Williams considers a broader range of interests and academic backgrounds, reflecting its liberal arts focus.
Which college is better for students interested in STEM fields?

Harvey Mudd College is the clear choice for students primarily interested in STEM fields. Its curriculum, research opportunities, and career services are specifically tailored to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. While Williams offers strong science programs, Harvey Mudd provides a more intensive and specialized STEM experience.
Which college is better for students interested in a broad liberal arts education?

Williams College is the better choice for students seeking a broad liberal arts education. Its curriculum encompasses a wide range of disciplines, allowing students to explore various fields of study and develop critical thinking skills applicable to diverse career paths. While Harvey Mudd offers some humanities courses, its primary focus is STEM.
How do the alumni networks of Williams and Harvey Mudd compare?

Both Williams College and Harvey Mudd College have strong and supportive alumni networks. Williams' alumni network is extensive and well-established, providing opportunities for networking and career support across various industries. Harvey Mudd's alumni network is particularly strong in STEM fields, offering valuable connections and mentorship opportunities for graduates pursuing careers in technology and engineering.

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