BU vs. Williams

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Williams College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 BU ($15,894 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 9.3% lower than at Boston University ($17,260 vs. $19,020).
  • Williams College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $458 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Williams than at Boston University (about $458 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Boston University (54% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($68,966 vs. $61,848).

BU vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 50 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 43% at Williams.

BU vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $12,418 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($14,582 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($150 vs. $279).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.