Williams College vs Wellesley College

Williams College and Wellesley College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Williams, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate (13.6%) compared to Wellesley's 20.3%. While Williams has a more balanced gender ratio, Wellesley is a women's college, fostering a unique and empowering environment. In terms of popular majors, Williams students often pursue Economics, English, and Political Science, while Wellesley students frequently choose Biological Sciences, Psychology, and Economics. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Williams at 96% and Wellesley at 94%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two exceptional institutions. Dive in to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Wellesley College logo

Wellesley College

Williams College logo

Williams College

Overview

Location Wellesley, Massachusetts 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 97.0% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 16.2% 8.8%
Application fees $65
SAT range 1400 - 1540 N/A
ACT range 31 - 34 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 36.0%
Students submitting ACT score 23.0%
Total number of applicants 7,663 12,452
Total number of admissions given out 1,240 1,099
Admitted students who chose to enroll 606 574
Yield rate 48.9% 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) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $64,602 $78,060
Average net price $21,862 $14,487
Tuition $60,424 $59,350
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,704

Meal plan: $8,584
Room/dormitory: $7,625

Meal plan: $7,375
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

60.0%
Average amount $55,483
52.0%
Average amount $52,053
Students receiving federal student loan 13.0%
Average amount $3,993
13.0%
Average amount $3,992
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $5,043
2.0%
Average amount $3,884

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,461
Men 1.2% Women 98.8%
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 13.8% 9.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 2,211 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

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Physical Science
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Ethnic Studies
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.1% 93.8%
Dropout rate 7.8% 3.1%
Transferred out N/A 1.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,380
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $124,973
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,781
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $80,094
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $62,505
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,749
  • Year 2: $34,420
  • Year 3: $47,043
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,693
  • Year 2: $36,852
  • Year 3: $46,471
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,849
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $45,061
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,002
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: $39,658
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,587
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,490
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
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

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