Emerson vs. Williams

Deciding between Emerson College 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.

Emerson College
Williams College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Williams College 6:1.

Emerson vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($15,894 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 17.5% lower than at Emerson College ($17,260 vs. $20,920).
  • Williams College is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $11,504 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.2% higher at Williams than at Emerson College (about $11,504 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Williams College (77% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 155.5% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($68,966 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 180 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 43% at Williams.

Emerson vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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 Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $24,400 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $8,918 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($14,582 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($150 vs. $242).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson 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.