William & Mary is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Williamsburg, Virginia. It enrolls 7,055 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
84/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes95
Value82
Affordability30
Selectivity93
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 34.1%, William & Mary is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
34.1%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1400 – 1530
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
32 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether William & Mary is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
5.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending William & Mary isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,096 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,096
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
22%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$25,914
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$51,038
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,182
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,182
Books & Supplies
$1,050
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,460
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,460
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,035
Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,106
$30,001 – $48,000
$881
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,916
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,803
Over $110,000
$34,370
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$18,500Medianpercentile
$25,96775%percentile
$27,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,000
↓ $3,500
No Pell $15,750
↓ $2,750
Dependent students $15,500
↓ $3,000
Independent students $15,066
↓ $3,434
Female students $15,000
↓ $3,500
Male students $15,750
↓ $2,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,685, less than completers ($18,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
90% of full-time students who enrolled at William & Mary graduate within six years, and 95% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
90%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
95%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered William & Mary earn a median of $73,490 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$73,490
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$64,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$86,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$76,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$69,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$75,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $22,500, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
William & Mary is home to 7,055 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,055
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.3%4,398
Asian 11.5%810
Hispanic 9.0%637
Other 7.4%521
Black 5.1%362
International 3.4%237
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at William & Mary. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbWilliamsburg, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential4,455 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
William & Mary offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
72 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at William & Mary is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$21,652
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$118,203
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
689 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
294
43%
$144,139
Associate Professors
218
32%
$109,346
Assistant Professors
125
18%
$94,412
Instructors
51
7%
$65,772
Lecturers
1
0%
$71,400
Pros & Cons of William & Mary
A quick at-a-glance summary of how William & Mary tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, William & Mary is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about William & Mary
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about William & Mary.
Is William & Mary hard to get into?
William & Mary is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 34.1%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at William & Mary?
William & Mary has an acceptance rate of 34.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for William & Mary?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William & Mary scored between 1400 and 1530 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for William & Mary?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William & Mary scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does William & Mary cost?
The average net price after aid at William & Mary is $19,096 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is William & Mary worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $73,490 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,096 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is William & Mary known for?
William & Mary is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Law, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do William & Mary graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering William & Mary are $73,490, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is William & Mary accredited?
Yes. William & Mary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend William & Mary?
William & Mary enrolls 7,055 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at William & Mary?
William & Mary graduates 90% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is William & Mary a public or private college?
William & Mary is a Public institution.
Where is William & Mary located?
William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia.
What programs does William & Mary offer?
William & Mary offers 72 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Law, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at William & Mary?
The student-to-faculty ratio at William & Mary is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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