Williams vs. Brown

Deciding between Williams College and Brown University? 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
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Williams vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Brown? 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 Brown ($15,894 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 1.1% lower than at Brown University ($17,260 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Williams (about $2,852 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Brown than at Williams College (about $2,852 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Brown University (54% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($68,966 vs. $61,392).

Williams vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Williams (1530).
  • Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have the same average high school GPA (3.94) as students at Brown (3.94).
  • Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Williams vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Brown? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Williams is the same as at Brown University (95% vs. 95%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $418 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($14,582 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($150 vs. $155).
  • More Brown 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.