University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Williams

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Boston 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.

University of Massachusetts Boston
Williams College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Large City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15,575
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Public 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston #438
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Williams
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $15,908
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $38,125
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $19,128
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $17,768
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $14,042
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 88%
  • Williams 54%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 21,262
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 17,813
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 83.8%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12.3%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1180
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 25
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3.35
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston B+
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Challenging
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 22/29
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1070/1290
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $22,060
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $228
  • Williams $150
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 42%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 36%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 16%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 14%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 7%
  • Williams 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 81%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 11%
  • Williams 77%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Williams Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Williams Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Williams Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Williams No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Yes
  • Williams Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Details
  • Williams Details

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Boston is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (15,575 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Boston is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Boston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Boston 15:1; Williams College 6:1.

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston ($15,894 vs. $17,768).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 9.8% lower than at University of Massachusetts Boston ($17,260 vs. $19,128).
  • Williams College is 331% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Boston (about $52,652 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $15,908.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.8% higher at Williams than at University of Massachusetts Boston (about $30,435 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $38,125.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Boston than at Williams College (88% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 391.1% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Boston students ($68,966 vs. $14,042).

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 350 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (1180).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at University of Massachusetts-Boston).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 1070/1290; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 22/29; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Boston - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at University of Massachusetts-Boston (3.35).
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. 43% at Williams.

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts Boston's (40%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $7,478 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($14,582 vs. $22,060).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($150 vs. $228).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Boston students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 58%)

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.