MHC vs. Williams

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Williams College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Williams College in Williamstown, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Williams College 6:1.

MHC vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($15,894 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 12.3% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($17,260 vs. $19,684).
  • Williams College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $1,542 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Williams than at Mount Holyoke College (about $1,542 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Williams College (77% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 31.6% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($68,966 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Williams Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 70 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Williams students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 43% at Williams.

MHC vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $23,600 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $6,624 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($14,582 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($150 vs. $219).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.