Williams vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rochester is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (11,946 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Williams vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or U of R? 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 U of R ($15,894 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 12.8% lower than at University of Rochester ($17,260 vs. $19,792).
• Williams College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than U of R (about $1,480 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Williams than at University of Rochester (about $1,480 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at Williams College (72% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 51.6% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($68,966 vs. $45,500).

Williams vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams or U of R? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between U of R and Williams.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 50 points higher than at U of R (1480).
• Incoming Williams students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 32 at U of R).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Williams College 1490/1570; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Williams College 34/35; University of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; U of R - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Williams students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at U of R (3.75).
• U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Williams (8.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Williams vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams and U of R? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than University of Rochester's (83%).
• Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than U of R graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $71,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $9,918 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($14,582 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($150 vs. $253).
• More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 79%)

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.