Harvard vs. Williams

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Williams College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Williams College 6:1.

Harvard vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard ($15,894 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 18.5% lower than at Harvard University ($17,260 vs. $21,190).
  • Williams College is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,884 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Williams than at Harvard University (about $6,884 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Williams College (56% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Harvard University students ($68,966 vs. $68,015).

Harvard vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Williams (1530).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Williams).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Williams (3.94).
  • Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 43% at Williams.

Harvard vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Williams College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $63,100 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $8,082 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($67 vs. $150).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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.