Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 8.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 96/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Williams scores 96 (Exceptional Value) on a campus of just 2,076 undergraduates, despite 6-year average earnings of $51,400 - a figure that requires immediate context. Williams graduates route heavily into graduate and professional school; the 10-year median earnings of $88,665 reflect what happens after those programs complete, and that trajectory is what actually defines the Williams outcome. The payback period of 3.9 years and median debt of $12,761 are both low, supported by an average net price of $17,716. For the lowest-income families, Williams' net price actually comes in below zero (-$2,610 for the under-$30,000 bracket), meaning grants exceed direct costs. Computer Science leads by early earnings (56 graduates, $110,814 at one year, $209,574 at four years) and Economics is the highest-enrollment program (134 graduates, $80,888 at one year, $166,678 at four years). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.248 across the school is well within comfortable range. Williams represents the case where the 6-year earnings figure is an unreliable gauge of value - the school's density of students continuing to graduate programs means the data catches many graduates mid-education rather than mid-career.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.9 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Williams College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $68,560/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $68,560/yr |
| Average net price | $17,716/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $70,864 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $88,665 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $51,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,761 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $135 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 93.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,076 |
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: $68,560/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,716/year, or roughly $70,864 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 -$2,610/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,594/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 $12,761, which works out to about $135 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($51,400) and comes to 0.25, 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 | -$2,610 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | -$1,727 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | -$1,978 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $3,030 |
| $110,001+ | $49,594 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
For families earning under $30,000, Williams' average net price is actually negative at -$2,610 - meaning grants and scholarships exceed direct costs. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket also shows a negative figure (-$1,727). Williams operates a need-blind admissions policy with a no-loan financial aid program for qualifying families, and these figures reflect that commitment. For low-income students who gain admission, Williams may be the most affordable option available regardless of school type.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay an average of -$1,978 per year - still below zero, meaning Williams remains essentially free for this income bracket through financial aid. The $75,001-$110,000 range shifts to $3,030 per year. These figures are exceptional for a private university with $68,560 sticker tuition. Families in the lower-middle income range who qualify for need-based aid should strongly consider Williams on financial terms alone, particularly given the 3.9-year payback period at the school level.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay an average of $49,594 per year - roughly $198,000 over four years, below the full four-year sticker cost. At this income level, the Williams decision is primarily about academic and career fit. The 3.9-year payback period is a school-wide average; CS and economics graduates will recoup the investment in under three years post-graduation, while humanities and science graduates on a graduate school path may have a longer timeline. Williams' endowment per student sustains the financial aid program and the academic resources that produce these outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Williams College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $166,678 | A |
| Psychology | $72,891 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $69,065 | B+ |
| Biology | $65,357 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $209,574 | A |
| History | $59,535 | - |
| Mathematics | $134,304 | B+ |
| International Relations | $88,339 | A |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $55,012 | B+ |
| Chemistry | $51,050 | B+ |
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.
Computer Science
CS at Williams produces 56 graduates per year. Median earnings hit $110,814 at one year and $209,574 at four years. Median debt is $12,208 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.110 earns an ROI grade of A. The Williams CS graduate brings both technical training and the liberal arts analytical background that technology employers increasingly seek for product management, research, and technical leadership roles. The small cohort size means individual access to faculty is high and research collaboration is possible in ways that are difficult at large CS departments.
Economics
Economics is the largest program at Williams with 134 graduates per year. Median earnings are $80,888 at one year and $166,678 at four years - the four-year figure is striking and reflects the strong finance and consulting placement Williams economics graduates achieve. Median debt is $12,925 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.160 earns an ROI grade of A. Many Williams economics graduates enter two-year analyst programs at investment banks or consulting firms before pursuing MBAs, which produces strong four-year earnings as those graduates move into associate roles. The Williams economics curriculum has a mathematical orientation and the small class sizes mean genuine faculty mentorship rather than lecture-hall instruction.
International Relations
International Relations graduates 46 students per year with $56,817 median earnings at one year and $88,339 at four years. The one-year figure reflects graduates entering government, think tanks, international organizations, and policy-adjacent roles. Many Williams IR graduates continue to law school, graduate programs in international affairs, or foreign service careers, meaning the one-year earnings figure captures only part of the trajectory. The four-year figure of $88,339 is solid and reflects eventual placement in senior analyst, government, and private sector international roles.
English Language and Literature
English graduates 62 students per year with $49,340 median earnings at one year and $69,065 at four years. Median debt is $13,125 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.266 earns a B+ grade. The B+ grade reflects a higher debt-to-earnings ratio relative to economics and CS, but not an unreasonable outcome for a program with strong downstream professional paths. Williams English graduates have access to the full range of liberal arts career services and alumni networking that positions this major better than the raw earnings data suggests.
Biology
Biology graduates 59 students per year with $41,213 median earnings at one year and $65,357 at four years. Median debt is $13,454 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.326 earns a B+ grade. The one-year figure reflects the pre-professional routing at Williams: a large share of biology graduates are in medical school, PhD programs, or post-baccalaureate research positions at the one-year mark. The four-year figure begins to capture those who enter the workforce after completing professional programs. Williams biology has strong research integration at the undergraduate level and solid medical school placement rates - neither of which appears in the Scorecard data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Williams College’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 | 8.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 750-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 2,076 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,317 |
Williams admits 8.25% of applicants. SAT 750-790 Math and 740-780 Reading are the mid-ranges; ACT 34-35 is standard. Williams evaluates applicants holistically with particular weight on academic intensity, intellectual curiosity demonstrated in essays, and extracurricular depth in a specific area. The school is known for prioritizing students who appear genuinely engaged in learning rather than credential accumulation - a distinction that matters in how competitive applicants should position themselves. Geographic and socioeconomic diversity are explicit institutional priorities, and the financial aid program is generous enough that low-income applicants with competitive profiles have a real shot. There is no application advantage to early decision at Williams; binding early decision is not offered.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Williams' ROI score is 96.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College (this school) | 96 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| Colby College | 94 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| Bowdoin College | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Swarthmore College | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the SAT 750-790 Math and 740-780 Reading range; ACT 34-35 composite. Williams admits 8.25% of applicants. Williams has 2,076 undergraduates, and the academic culture is intensely residential. Students who thrive here are engaged with academic breadth, comfortable with a small-town Vermont setting, and prepared for a rigorous discussion-based classroom environment.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Williams College is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $70,864 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $88,665 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.9 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 93.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $12,761 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $51,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Williams College: Common Questions
Is Williams College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Williams College pays off. It scores 96/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,716 a year after aid ($70,864 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $88,665 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.9 years to earn back.
How much does Williams College 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 $17,716 a year, or roughly $70,864 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 Williams College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $88,665 ten years after enrolling, roughly $46,865 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 Williams College?
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 3.9 years for Williams College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Williams College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $12,761, against average earnings of $51,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Williams College?
The six-year graduation rate is 93.6%, 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.