William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia · Public · 34.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
William and Mary earns a 91 ROI score as Virginia's second-oldest public university. With 7,055 undergraduates in Williamsburg, it offers the price advantage of a public institution alongside selectivity (34% admission rate) that rivals many privates. In-state tuition is $25,914, and the average net price is $19,096 across all income levels. Earnings reach $47,400 six years out and $73,490 at ten years, with a 5.6-year payback period. The 89.4% completion rate is strong. Business Administration with 200 graduates is the largest high-earning program, and Computer Science delivers $85K one-year earnings for 95 graduates. The school has a pre-law culture - the Mason School of Business and the Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations draw students with government and policy ambitions.
William & Mary scores in the top 5% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
William & Mary
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $25,914/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $51,038/yr |
| Average net price | $19,096/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $76,384 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,490 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 89.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,055 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $25,914/year ($51,038/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,096/year, or roughly $76,384 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $3,106/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,370/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,500, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,400) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,106 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $881 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,916 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,803 |
| $110,001+ | $34,370 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $3,106 per year - roughly $12,400 for four years. This applies to Virginia residents from low-income households.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket drops to $881 per year - an outlier likely reflecting strong aid for this specific income band. The 48-75k bracket rises to $5,916 and the 75-110k bracket to $16,803. The pricing curve is not smooth, but middle-income families in Virginia generally access W&M at well below sticker price. A family earning $80,000 pays roughly $17K/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $34,370 per year, which approaches the out-of-state tuition rate ($51,038). For high-income Virginia residents, this represents solid value given median 10-year earnings of $73,490. For out-of-state high-income families paying closer to sticker, the ROI math is tighter.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at William & Mary with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $111,366 | B+ |
| International Relations | $72,173 | C+ |
| Psychology | $59,226 | C+ |
| Biology | $49,644 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $68,992 | D |
| Economics | $105,467 | B+ |
| History | $63,632 | C |
| Computer Science | $127,851 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $91,065 | B |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $70,523 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is William and Mary's largest program at 200 graduates and shows one-year earnings of $75,038 and four-year earnings of $111,366. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.264 with a B+ grade. The Raymond A. Mason School of Business places graduates in finance, consulting, and corporate management. The Washington, D.C. area job market - accessible from Williamsburg - creates strong recruitment pipelines into federal contracting and professional services firms. At $111K four-year earnings with modest debt, business graduates at W&M are in a solid financial position within a few years of graduation.
Computer Science
Computer Science (95 graduates) shows $84,956 one-year median earnings and $127,851 at four years, with a 0.233 debt-to-earnings ratio and an A grade. Starting at $85K is competitive for a public university in Virginia, and the four-year trajectory to $128K reflects demand for W&M CS graduates at technology companies and defense contractors in the Northern Virginia tech corridor. The 0.233 debt ratio is manageable. Students who graduate with a W&M CS degree and take a job near D.C. are in a strong financial position from the start.
Economics
Economics (122 graduates) delivers $65,603 one-year earnings and $105,467 at four years, with a 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. This program feeds into finance, government, and policy careers. W&M's proximity to D.C. policy institutions, combined with a strong alumni network in Washington, makes economics a viable path toward government and consulting work. The $105K four-year median indicates strong medium-term trajectory - likely analysts promoted into senior roles at consulting firms and government agencies. The 0.30 debt ratio is acceptable but not low.
Sociology
Sociology (37 graduates) shows four-year earnings of $87,655 with a 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio and an A grade - one-year data is not available. The 0.16 debt ratio is low and reflects both moderate borrowing and strong eventual earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How William & Mary’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 34.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 690-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 710-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-34 |
| Enrollment | 7,055 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,942 |
William and Mary's admission rate is 34.1%. SAT Math 690-770, SAT Reading 710-760, ACT 32-34 define the range. In-state applicants have a meaningful advantage in the admissions pool.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| William & Mary (this school) | 91 | $19,096 | $73,490 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | 90 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| Binghamton University | 89 | $21,620 | $80,596 |
| George Mason University | 86 | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| Christopher Newport University | 64 | $23,015 | $60,509 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See William & Mary side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster at SAT 690-770 (Math) and 710-760 (Reading), ACT 32-34. Students interested in business, law, government, international relations, and computer science find the strongest infrastructure. Williamsburg's relatively remote location means campus social life dominates; students who want an urban environment should weigh that trade-off.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether William & Mary is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $76,384 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $73,490 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.6 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 89.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $18,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
William & Mary: Common Questions
Is William & Mary worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students William & Mary pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $19,096 a year after aid ($76,384 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,490 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.6 years to earn back.
How much does William & Mary cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,096 a year, or roughly $76,384 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do William & Mary graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,490 ten years after enrolling, roughly $31,690 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off William & Mary?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.6 years for William & Mary. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do William & Mary graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,500, against average earnings of $47,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at William & Mary?
The six-year graduation rate is 89.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.