Dickinson College vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Dickinson College vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Dickinson College ($19,686 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 5.4% lower than at Dickinson College ($16,182 vs. $17,100).
• Dickinson College is 153.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $39,736 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Dickinson College than at William & Mary (about $14,612 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at William & Mary (96% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 92.2% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($44,479 vs. $23,144).

Dickinson College vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 80 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Dickinson College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Dickinson College has a higher acceptance rate (42.1%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Dickinson College vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Dickinson College's (84%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Dickinson College graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dickinson College graduates ($201 vs. $217).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.