UNIVERSITY · CDS 2022-2023
Williams College
Williamstown, MA 2,101 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
NESCACTop LAC
Accept
8.3%
Yield
49.4%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%)
—
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
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SAT Math (mid 50%)
—
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
—
GPA
Not reported
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan details not yet recorded. | |||
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$76,300
Total COA
$95,960
Avg need-based aid
$70,764
Avg merit award
None
Net price after avg need aid
$25,196
Williams meets 1% of demonstrated need on average.
ImportantWilliams does not award non-need merit scholarships. All institutional aid is need-based. Use this honestly with families: a strong applicant here gets in, but the price is set by the FAFSA/CSS, not by stats.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Williams's AP Policy
Williams College's AP policy focuses on placement into appropriate level courses rather than granting credit to reduce the number of courses required for graduation. For most subjects, placement is determined by the respective academic department, often through their own placement exams. In some cases, a high score (typically 4 or 5) on an AP exam can lead to placement in a higher-level course.
Min score
3
Credit cap
0 credits
Mode
Placement only
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankConsidered
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresConsidered
- Application EssayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
With deep conviction in the transformative potential of a residential liberal arts education, Williams strives to foster academic vitality, nurture intellectual curiosity, and inspire creativity.
Distilled Themes
transformative liberal artsintellectual curiositycreativitycommunity
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Williams is looking for intellectually curious students who will contribute to their tight-knit residential community.
- 02They value students who have a genuine love of learning and a desire to explore a wide range of academic interests.
- 03A passion for collaboration and a willingness to engage in respectful debate are highly valued.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrate a deep and genuine intellectual curiosity through your essays and extracurriculars.
- 02Highlight your commitment to community and your ability to contribute to a collaborative learning environment.
- 03Showcase your unique talents and how you will enrich the Williams community.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- A lack of intellectual curiosity or a focus on a single, narrow interest
- An inability to articulate how you will contribute to the Williams community
- A sense of entitlement or a lack of humility
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
Tutorials; Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford; Center for Development Economics; Williams-Mystic
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Nov 15, 2025
→ Dec 14, 2025
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Jan 5, 2026
→ Apr 1, 2026
Early Decision II
Not offered
—
Early Action
Not offered
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Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (N/A)
Not trackedWeight: Not Considered
Williams College does not track demonstrated interest; official policy states all applicants are evaluated identically regardless of contact.
Save the energy
Do not spend effort on interest signals—focus on essays and academics instead.
Provenance