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Amherst College vs Williams College

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

Getting in

Acceptance rate9%8.6%
Early decision rate29.4%26.6%
SAT middle 50%1500–15601490–1550
ACT middle 50%33–3533–35
Applicant reports on our site273327

Cost and aid

Tuition$69,820$76,300
Food and housing$18,390$19,320
Sticker price per year$88,870$95,960
Average need-based grant$68,154$80,302
Average % of need met100%100%

Outcomes

First-year retention97.3%97.4%
6-year graduation rate94%95.2%
Undergraduates1,9142,101

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

Amherst College or Williams College?

Is Amherst College harder to get into than Williams College?

They are about equally selective: Amherst College admitted 9% of first-year applicants (2024-25) and Williams College admitted 8.6% (2025-26).

What SAT scores do Amherst College and Williams College students have?

The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1500–1560 at Amherst College and 1490–1550 at Williams College.

Which is cheaper, Amherst College or Williams College?

Before aid, Amherst College costs about $88,870 a year in tuition, fees, food and housing, against $95,960 at Williams College (out-of-state tuition for public universities). The average need-based grant is $68,154 at Amherst College and $80,302 at Williams College.

Does Amherst College or Williams College have a higher graduation rate?

94% of Amherst College students graduate within six years, compared with 95.2% at Williams College.

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