Williams vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Williams vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Columbia? 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 Columbia ($15,894 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 1.8% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($17,260 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Williams (about $3,285 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $68,560.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Columbia than at Williams College (about $3,285 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $68,560.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (54% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($68,966 vs. $67,010).

Williams vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 20 points higher than at Williams (1530).
• Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Columbia (3.91).
• Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Williams vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Columbia? 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 Columbia University in the City of New York's (93%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $34,000 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $6,918 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($14,582 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($150 vs. $222).
• More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

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.