William & Mary vs. UVA

Comparable Facts

Compare William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Virginia Main Campus is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (26,409 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
• William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

William & Mary vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William & Mary or UVA? 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 University of Virginia Main Campus than William & Mary ($18,427 vs. $19,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 8.5% lower than at William & Mary ($14,800 vs. $16,182).
• William & Mary is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVA (about $4,111 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $21,803.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at UVA than at William & Mary (about $8,474 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William & Mary than at University of Virginia Main Campus (43% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 24.1% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($28,715 vs. $23,144).

William & Mary vs. UVA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary or UVA? 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 UVA and William & Mary.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 10 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming William & Mary students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at UVA (33).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 1400/1530; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; UVA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have the same average high school GPA (3.85) as students at UVA (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than UVA (16.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 40% at UVA.

William & Mary vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William & Mary and UVA? 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).

• University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus and William & Mary graduates have the same median loan debt ($19,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Virginia Main Campus and William & Mary graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($201 vs. $201).
• More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 85%)

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.