Williams vs. Barnard

Deciding between Williams College and Barnard 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.

Williams College
Barnard College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Williams vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($15,894 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 20.5% lower than at Barnard College ($17,260 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Williams (about $1,328 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Barnard than at Williams College (about $1,328 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Barnard College (54% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($68,966 vs. $63,131).

Williams vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Williams.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 10 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Williams vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Barnard? 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $3,265 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($14,582 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($150 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.