Williams vs. Penn State

Williams College and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Williams College
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Williams (8.3% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Williams 95% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Williams $73,600 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Williams College Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Williams more selective
Williams8.3%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Williams higher
Williams1490-1570
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Williams $11,995 less
Williams$15,894
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $47,916 less
Williams$68,560
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $26,770 less
Williams$68,560
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Williams +8 pts
Williams95%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Williams +$18,300
Williams$73,600
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Williams 43%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Williams A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Williams 34-35
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Williams $150
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 16.1% lower than at Williams College ($14,474 vs. $17,260).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.1% higher at Williams than at Penn State Main Campus (about $26,770 more per year; $68,560 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Penn State Main Campus (54% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 508.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($68,966 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Williams than at Penn State (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Williams and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $12,236 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($14,582 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($150 vs. $277).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 69%).

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

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