William & Mary vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

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

William & Mary is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

William & Mary vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William & Mary or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College ($19,686 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sweet Briar College are 5.9% lower than at William & Mary ($15,230 vs. $16,182).
• Sweet Briar College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $246 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.1% higher at William & Mary than at Sweet Briar College (about $24,878 more per year; $51,038.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at William & Mary (99% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William & Mary students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($23,144 vs. $22,387).

William & Mary vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and William & Mary.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 260 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 1400/1530; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54).
• Sweet Briar College has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

William & Mary vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William & Mary and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Sweet Briar College's (70%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $27,000 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($201 vs. $279).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sweet Briar College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

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.