Yale vs. Williams

Deciding between Yale University and Williams College? 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.

Yale University
Williams College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Yale University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Williams College 6:1.

Yale vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or Williams? 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 Yale ($15,894 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 13.3% lower than at Yale University ($17,260 vs. $19,900).
  • Williams College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $1,310 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Williams than at Yale University (about $1,310 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Williams College (56% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Yale University students ($68,966 vs. $65,892).

Yale vs. Williams Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 10 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Williams (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Williams (3.94).
  • Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 43% at Williams.

Yale vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale and Williams? 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Williams College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $44,800 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $1,082 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($13,500 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($139 vs. $150).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.