AU vs. Williams

Deciding between American University and Williams College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Williams College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Williams Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Williams Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Williams Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Williams No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Williams Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Williams College in Williamstown, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Williams College 6:1.

AU vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Williams? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Williams College than AU ($15,894 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 4% lower than at American University ($17,260 vs. $17,982).
  • Williams College is 16.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $9,789 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Williams than at American University (about $9,789 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Williams College (67% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 89.7% larger than aid received by American University students ($68,966 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Williams? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Williams and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 160 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 43% at Williams.

AU vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Williams? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $9,668 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($14,582 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($150 vs. $250).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.