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Williamsburg , VA
Founded in 1693, the College of William & Mary is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. As the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States, William & Mary boasts a long-standing tradition of academic excellence. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, education, law, and public policy. With a distinguished faculty and a rich history, William & Mary is renowned for its strong liberal arts education and commitment to research and innovation.
At William & Mary, students can expect a vibrant and engaging learning environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. The university prides itself on its close-knit community and small class sizes, allowing students to interact closely with faculty and fellow students. With over 40 undergraduate majors, 47 master's programs, and 17 doctoral programs, students have a wide range of options to explore their academic interests.
Beyond academics, William & Mary offers a lively campus life with numerous student organizations and clubs catering to a diverse range of interests and passions. The university is home to a thriving arts scene, with theater productions, musical performances, and art exhibitions regularly held on campus. Additionally, William & Mary's competitive athletic programs and beautiful campus grounds, steeped in historical significance, further enhance the overall college experience. With its rich cultural heritage and commitment to academic rigor, William & Mary provides students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in a rapidly changing world.
Located in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 34%. The freshman retention rate at William & Mary is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 5. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Here are some essential information on important things to consider about William & Mary.
Quick Facts
7,063
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Here are the most essential information you have to know about admission policy and requirements at William & Mary.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,064 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 43% and ACT scores 16%. 78.9% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 19.4% between 1,200 and 1,399, 1.6% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.1% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 94.1, 5.6 between 24-29 and 0.4 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.36. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into William & Mary.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is January 5. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for William & Mary was 95% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal match for you is not simple. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at William & Mary in 2025 was 9,818.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 34.1% for that year. There was a total of 7,063 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 235 international students. 183 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,586 male and 4,984 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 810, while the number of Black American students was 362. 639 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 511 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 8 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 90 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at William & Mary that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for William & Mary is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $18,709. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $43,442 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $43,442, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $7,025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,442 | $7,025 | $50,467 |
| In-State | $18,709 | $7,025 | $25,734 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. The estimated expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,050.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At William & Mary, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $16,182. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $9,840, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $9,840.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 18,709 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,182 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,050 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,941 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at William & Mary.
The most recent records show that 611 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $29,365 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
2,206 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at William & Mary isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 2,531. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $5,551,074, and state $5,124,572. The students of William & Mary received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $43,974,276, and external in the amount of $1,900,754.
$6,067
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
1,085 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 295 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $5,551,074 while the state aid is $210,477. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $5,173,497. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,173,917 USD.
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at William & Mary was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio.
Campus Life
Not everything at William & Mary is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about students' life at William & Mary.
It has a campus size of 1,200 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
According to recently gathered data, there are 420 open-membership organizations at William & Mary. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 24 and female students 26. The student organization that has the biggest membership is South Asian Student Association, followed by Cheese Club and International Relations Club. Other popular organizations at William & Mary are Alpha Phi Omega and Student Assembly.
For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. Interested in media and communication? William & Mary publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
William & Mary offers a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of William & Mary.
All in all, campus life at William & Mary is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at William & Mary.
Career Counselling
At William & Mary, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 77,618 USD.
$77,618
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA.
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William & Mary doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for William & Mary is 34%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for William & Mary is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
