Williams vs. Princeton

Comparable Facts

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

Princeton University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Williams vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Princeton? 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 Princeton University than Williams ($15,313 vs. $15,894).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 14.8% lower than at Princeton University ($17,260 vs. $20,250).
• Williams College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $5,872 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Williams than at Princeton University (about $5,872 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Williams College (67% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Princeton University students ($68,966 vs. $68,727).

Williams vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Williams (1530).
• Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Princeton (3.93).
• Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Williams vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Princeton? 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).

• Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Williams College's (95%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $40,300 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $7,082 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($7,500 vs. $14,582).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($77 vs. $150).
• More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.