Williams vs. Davidson

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Williams College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
• Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Williams vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Davidson? 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 Davidson ($15,894 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 0.9% lower than at Williams College ($17,100 vs. $17,260).
• Williams College is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $4,150 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Williams than at Davidson College (about $4,150 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Williams College (65% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 33.3% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($68,966 vs. $51,755).

Williams vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 60 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Williams students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Davidson College 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Davidson College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Davidson has a higher acceptance rate (13.4%) than Williams (8.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Williams vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Davidson? 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 Davidson College's (92%).
• Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $2,418 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($14,582 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($150 vs. $175).
• More Davidson 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.