Barnard vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Barnard vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Barnard ($19,686 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 25.5% lower than at Barnard College ($16,182 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 169.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $43,974 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.9% higher at Barnard than at William & Mary (about $18,850 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William & Mary than at Barnard College (43% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 172.8% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($63,131 vs. $23,144).

Barnard vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Barnard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 50 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Barnard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at William & Mary (33).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Barnard students have the same average high school GPA (3.85) as students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Barnard (8.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Barnard vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard and William & Mary? 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).

• Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $1,653 lower median loan debt than William & Mary graduates ($17,847 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William & Mary graduates ($184 vs. $201).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)

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.