Oxy vs. Williams

Occidental College and Williams College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Occidental College
Williams College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Williams (8.3% admitted vs 44.2%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1450.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $48,400 at Oxy.
  • Graduation: Oxy 83% vs Williams 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Oxy $56,600 vs Williams $73,600 (median).
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Key differences

Occidental College Williams College
Acceptance rate
Williams more selective
Oxy44.2%
Williams8.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Williams higher
Oxy1380-1520
Williams1490-1570
Average net price
Williams $32,506 less
Oxy$48,400
Williams$15,894
In-state tuition
Oxy $2,286 less
Oxy$66,274
Williams$68,560
Out-of-state tuition
Oxy $2,286 less
Oxy$66,274
Williams$68,560
Graduation rate
Williams +12 pts
Oxy83%
Williams95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Williams +$17,000
Oxy$56,600
Williams$73,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Oxy 6,461
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Oxy 2,854
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance rate
  • Oxy 44.2%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Oxy 17.8%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oxy 1450
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oxy 32
  • Williams 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Oxy 3.63
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Oxy A-
  • Williams A
  • Admissions standards
  • Oxy Exceptional
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Oxy Low
  • Williams Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Oxy 1380-1520
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • ACT range
  • Oxy 31-34
  • Williams 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Oxy Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Oxy Jan 10, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & board
  • Oxy $19,252
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average net price
  • Oxy $48,400
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average grant aid
  • Oxy $36,400
  • Williams $68,966
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Oxy 75%
  • Williams 54%
  • Graduation rate
  • Oxy 83%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Oxy $56,600
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Oxy 87%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Oxy $23,652
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median loan payment
  • Oxy $244
  • Williams $150
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Oxy 9:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Oxy
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Oxy Los Angeles, CA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Oxy Large City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Oxy 1,881
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Oxy Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Oxy #75
  • Williams #14

Comparable Facts

Compare Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA with Williams College in Williamstown, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Williams College is larger than Oxy based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,881 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Occidental College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Occidental College 9:1; Williams College 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 10.3% lower than at Occidental College ($17,260 vs. $19,252).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Williams than at Occidental College (about $2,286 more per year; $68,560 vs. $66,274).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Occidental College than at Williams College (75% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 89.5% larger than aid received by Occidental College students ($68,966 vs. $36,400).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Williams than at Oxy (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Oxy and Williams.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oxy Jan 10, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Williams average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.31 higher than at Oxy (3.63).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.8% at Oxy vs. 43% at Williams.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $9,070 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($14,582 vs. $23,652).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($150 vs. $244).
  • More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 83%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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