Williams vs. Penn

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

Williams College
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 8.3%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1530.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $23,570 at Penn.
  • Graduation: Williams 95% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Williams $73,600 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Williams College University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Williams8.3%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Williams1490-1570
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Williams $7,676 less
Williams$15,894
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Williams $126 less
Williams$68,560
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Williams $126 less
Williams$68,560
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Penn +1 pts
Williams95%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$50,000
Williams$73,600
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Williams 43%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Williams A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Williams 34-35
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Williams $150
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,164 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 10% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($17,260 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Penn than at Williams College (about $126 more per year; $68,686 vs. $68,560).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at University of Pennsylvania (54% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by University of Pennsylvania students ($68,966 vs. $65,458).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Penn than at Williams (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Williams, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at Williams (3.94).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $6,051 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($14,582 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($150 vs. $213).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation (84% 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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