MIT vs. Williams

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Williams College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Williams College in Williamstown, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Williams College 6:1.

MIT vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 MIT ($15,894 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 14.9% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($17,260 vs. $20,280).
  • Williams College is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $6,164 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Williams than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $6,164 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Williams College (59% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($68,966 vs. $61,734).

MIT vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 20 points higher than at Williams (1530).
  • Incoming MIT 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Williams (3.94).
  • Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 43% at Williams.

MIT vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (93%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $68,500 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $2,734 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($14,582 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($150 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

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.