Williams vs. NYU

Deciding between Williams College and New York 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
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Williams vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or NYU? 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 NYU ($15,894 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 26.6% lower than at New York University ($17,260 vs. $23,530).
  • Williams College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $5,764 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Williams than at New York University (about $5,764 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at New York University (54% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 27.9% larger than aid received by New York University students ($68,966 vs. $53,901).

Williams vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 10 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Williams vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $8,668 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($14,582 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($150 vs. $240).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.