Williams vs. Cornell

Deciding between Williams College and Cornell 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
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Williams vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Cornell? 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 Cornell ($15,894 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 11.2% lower than at Cornell University ($17,260 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Williams (about $754 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Cornell than at Williams College (about $754 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Cornell University (54% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 11.6% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($68,966 vs. $61,779).

Williams vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 10 points higher than at Williams (1530).
  • Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Cornell (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Williams vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Cornell? 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 Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $24,800 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $2,582 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($124 vs. $150).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.