F&M vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

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

William & Mary is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

F&M vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($19,686 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 0% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($16,182 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 173.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $44,880 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at F&M than at William & Mary (about $19,756 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at William & Mary (80% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 81% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($41,901 vs. $23,144).

F&M vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 80 points higher than at F&M (1390).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at F&M).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

F&M vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($201 vs. $227).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.