William & Mary Admission Requirements

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  • 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, VA
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#4 Best Public Universities in America

William & Mary Admission Overview

William & Mary admission requirements are highly competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in Virginia. Last year William & Mary admitted 34.1% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1400-1530 / ACT 32-34. William & Mary 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

William & Mary Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

34.1%

Admission Standards

Exceptional

Applicant Competition

High

Very Low
Low
Average
High
Very High
Extreme

Admission difficulty for William & Mary

Acceptance Rate

The William & Mary acceptance rate is 34.1%. Last year, 6,064 of 17,798 applicants were admitted. That is the 5th lowest acceptance rate in Virginia and the 126th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into William & Mary and can you get accepted?

William & Mary is a highly competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than half of applicants. You have a moderate chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 27% of those admitted chose to enroll.

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

William & Mary GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.85*

Typical High School Grades

A

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.85*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

William & Mary has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.85 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. William & Mary is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

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

William & Mary Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

William & Mary is test-optional for first-year admission. SAT or ACT scores are a completely optional part of the application, and you may self-report them or send an official report from the testing agency. William & Mary superscores both the SAT and the ACT and, if you send both exams, uses the result that helps you more. No applicant group is required to submit scores, and all applicants are considered for merit programs whether or not they send them.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/standardizedtesting/

William & Mary SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1400-1530

Freshmen who sent SAT

43%

25th Percentile Scores

  • Reading 710
  • Math 690
  • Composite 1400
SAT 25th percentile scores for William & Mary

75th Percentile Scores

  • Reading 760
  • Math 770
  • Composite 1530
SAT 75th percentile scores for William & Mary

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at William & Mary typically score around a 1470 SAT (middle 50% 1400–1530) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 98th percentile nationally. William & Mary ranks #4 in the state of Virginia and #62 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1400 to 1530

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

William & Mary 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 1470 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 William & Mary
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness Admission Chances
1530+ Above 75th >49%
1470 to 1530 Avg + 35%-49%
1400 to 1470 Avg - 21%-35%
Below 1400 Below mid-50 <21%

What do these figures mean?

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

William & Mary ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

32-34

Freshmen reporting ACT

16%

25th Percentile Scores

  • English 34
  • Math 28
  • Composite 32
ACT 25th percentile scores for William & Mary

75th Percentile Scores

  • English 35
  • Math 33
  • Composite 34
ACT 75th percentile scores for William & Mary

Average ACT

Incoming testers at William & Mary typically have around a 33 ACT (mid-50 32–34) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 98th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. William & Mary places #2 among colleges in Virginia and #54 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 32 to 34

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

You may apply to William & Mary without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 33.0 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 William & Mary
ACT Score (36 scale) Competitiveness Admission Chances
34+ Above 75th >49%
33 to 34 Avg + 34%-49%
32 to 33 Avg - 21%-34%
Below 32 Below mid-50 <21%

How to read these figures

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

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

82% of William & Mary 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 William & Mary students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 82%
Top 25% of class 97%
Top 50% of class 99%

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 William & Mary chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

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

William & Mary admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 11,047 6,742 17,798
Accepted 3,544 2,519 6,064
Acceptance Rate 32% 37% 34%
Enrolled 971 643 1,614
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 27% 26% 27%

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

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to William & Mary and what student information is used for admission decisions?

William & Mary application requirements
Requirement Used for Admission
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
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 considered for admission, even if submitted

Test scores: school admissions site, 2026-27. Other fields: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Fall 2027 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 2, 2027

Days left to Apply

124

Applicants have 124 days left until the Fall 2027 term applications are due on Jan 2, 2027.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to William & Mary is $75.

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

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at William & Mary
Credit Type Accepted
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

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

Admission summary

William & Mary is test-optional for 2026-27. Last year it admitted 34.1% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1400-1530); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

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

Other Colleges to Apply To

Students applying to William & Mary often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=231624.

GPA calculator: William & Mary GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026