Williams vs. RPI

Deciding between Williams College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Williams vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or RPI? 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 RPI ($15,894 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 4.7% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,260 vs. $18,120).
  • Williams College is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $4,479 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Williams than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $4,479 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Williams College (95% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 58.5% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($68,966 vs. $43,517).

Williams vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 90 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Williams vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and RPI? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $12,918 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($14,582 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($150 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.