Williams vs. Princeton

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

Williams College
Princeton University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Princeton (4.6% admitted vs 8.3%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1530.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $15,894 at Williams vs $15,313 at Princeton. Williams in-state tuition is about $5,872 more per year.
  • Graduation: Williams 95% vs Princeton 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Williams $73,600 vs Princeton $113,900 (median).
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Key differences

Williams College Princeton University
Acceptance rate
Princeton more selective
Williams8.3%
Princeton4.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Princeton higher
Williams1490-1570
Princeton1510-1580
Average net price
About even
Williams$15,894
Princeton$15,313
In-state tuition
Princeton $5,872 less
Williams$68,560
Princeton$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
Princeton $5,872 less
Williams$68,560
Princeton$62,688
Graduation rate
Princeton +1 pts
Williams95%
Princeton96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Princeton +$40,300
Williams$73,600
Princeton$113,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Williams 43%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical high school grades
  • Williams A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • Princeton 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Williams 34-35
  • Princeton 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average net price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average grant aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Graduation rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Williams $150
  • Princeton $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Princeton #1

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Princeton University is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 14.8% lower than at Princeton University ($17,260 vs. $20,250).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Williams than at Princeton University (about $5,872 more per year; $68,560 vs. $62,688).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Williams College (67% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Princeton University students ($68,966 vs. $68,727).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Williams students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Williams and Princeton.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Williams average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at Princeton (3.93).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $7,082 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($7,500 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($77 vs. $150).
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation (83% 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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