Williams vs. Columbia

Williams College and Columbia University in the City of New York side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Williams College
Columbia University in the City of New York

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Columbia (4% admitted vs 8.3%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1530.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $22,520 at Columbia.
  • Graduation: Williams 95% vs Columbia 93%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Williams $73,600 vs Columbia $107,600 (median).
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Key differences

Williams College Columbia University in the City of New York
Acceptance rate
Columbia more selective
Williams8.3%
Columbia4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Columbia higher
Williams1490-1570
Columbia1510-1580
Average net price
Williams $6,626 less
Williams$15,894
Columbia$22,520
In-state tuition
Williams $3,285 less
Williams$68,560
Columbia$71,845
Out-of-state tuition
Williams $3,285 less
Williams$68,560
Columbia$71,845
Graduation rate
Williams +2 pts
Williams95%
Columbia93%
Median earnings (10 years)
Columbia +$34,000
Williams$73,600
Columbia$107,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Williams 43%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Columbia 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical high school grades
  • Williams A
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Columbia Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • Columbia 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Williams 34-35
  • Columbia 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average net price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average grant aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Graduation rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Williams $150
  • Columbia $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Columbia #22

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 1.8% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($17,260 vs. $17,580).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Columbia than at Williams College (about $3,285 more per year; $71,845 vs. $68,560).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (54% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($68,966 vs. $67,010).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Williams and Columbia.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Williams average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at Columbia (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $6,918 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($14,582 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($150 vs. $222).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 76%).

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

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