Williams vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Williams College and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Williams vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($15,894 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 9% lower than at Williams College ($15,714 vs. $17,260).
  • Williams College is 282.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $50,631 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.1% higher at Williams than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $31,119 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (54% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 311.9% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($68,966 vs. $16,742).

Williams vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 120 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 1490/1570; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Williams vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $7,633 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($14,582 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($150 vs. $229).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

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.