Williams Admission Requirements

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4 Year
Williamstown, MA
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Williams Admission Overview

Williams admission requirements are extremely competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in the nation. Last year Williams admitted 8.3% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1490-1570 / ACT 34-35. Williams is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Williams is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT or ACT.

Source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Williams Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

8.3%

Admission Standards

Elite

Applicant Competition

Extreme

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Williams acceptance rate is 8.3%. Last year, only 1,272 of 15,411 applicants were admitted. That is the 4th lowest acceptance rate in Massachusetts and the 23rd lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Williams and can you get accepted?

Williams is an extremely competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than one in ten applicants. You have a very low chance of acceptance even if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 43% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Williams GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.94*

Typical High School Grades

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.94*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Williams has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.94 GPA (A) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. An estimated 3.94 GPA does not by itself determine admission. Williams is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*3.94 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Williams SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1490-1570

Freshmen who sent SAT

35%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 740
Math 750
Composite 1490

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 780
Math 790
Composite 1570

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Williams typically score around a 1530 SAT (middle 50% 1490–1570) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 99th percentile nationally. Williams ranks #4 in the state of Massachusetts and #21 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1490 to 1570

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Matching last year's 1490–1570 range does not by itself determine admission.

SAT policy

Williams is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT. If you send a score, it is considered.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1530 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission. If you withhold SAT, skip this table.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Williams College
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1570+	Above 75th	>14%
1530 to 1570	Avg +	8%-14%
1490 to 1530	Avg -	4%-8%
Below 1490	Below mid-50	<4%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Williams ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

34-35

Freshmen reporting ACT

17%

25th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 32
Composite 34

75th Percentile Scores

English 36
Math 35
Composite 35

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Williams typically have around a 34 ACT (mid-50 34–35) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 99th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Williams places #8 among colleges in Massachusetts and #20 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 34 to 35

1 9 18 27 36

Landing in last year's 34–35 band does not, on its own, decide admission.

ACT policy

You may apply to Williams without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 34.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds. If you leave ACT off your application, you can skip this table.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Williams College
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
35+	Above 75th	>24%
34 to 35	Avg +	8%-24%
34 to 34	Avg -	8%-8%
Below 34	Below mid-50	<8%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

90% of Williams College freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Williams College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	90%
Top 25% of class	100%
Top 50% of class	100%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and scores compare with last year's enrolled testers. You can mark that you will withhold scores.

Open the Williams chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Williams College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	7,256	7,280	15,411
Accepted	638	582	1,272
Acceptance Rate	9%	8%	8%
Enrolled	278	261	547
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	44%	45%	43%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Williams College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Williams College application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Fall 2027 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 10, 2027

Days left to Apply

132

Applicants have 132 days left until the Fall 2027 term applications are due on Jan 10, 2027.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Williams College is $65.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at Williams College
Credit Type	Accepted
AP Credit	No
Dual Credit	No
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Admission summary

Williams is test-optional for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 8.3% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1490-1570); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025