Williams vs. F&M

Deciding between Williams College and Franklin and Marshall 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Williams College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Williams vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or F&M? 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 F&M ($15,894 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 6.2% lower than at Williams College ($16,188 vs. $17,260).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Williams (about $2,234 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at F&M than at Williams College (about $2,234 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $68,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Williams College (80% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 64.6% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($68,966 vs. $41,901).

Williams vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams or F&M? 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 F&M and Williams.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 140 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Williams vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $7,418 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($14,582 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($150 vs. $227).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.