William & Mary
William & Mary — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
How to Apply to William & Mary
Official admissions pageFee waiver
Is William & Mary Worth It?
William & Mary is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $19,096/year net price and $73,490 median earnings, graduates earn 3.8× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 90% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Bottom line: William & Mary delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How William & Mary compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #3 of 6 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #3 | William & Mary | 87 | $19,096 | $73,490 |
| #4 | University of Arkansas Grantham | 60 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| #5 | Bellevue College | 43 | $11,430 | $56,310 |
| #6 | University of Massachusetts Global | 22 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of William & Mary's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at William & Mary
The highest-earning program at William & Mary is Computer Science at $68,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other at $19,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from William & Mary earns $68,500, while a Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other graduate earns $19,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $19,500 in median debt vs. $20,875 for Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,096/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $68,500 | $68,500 | $19,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,300 | $61,300 | $15,000 |
| Economics | $49,600 | $49,600 | $19,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $42,900 | $42,900 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $38,500 | $38,500 | $19,000 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $36,100 | $36,100 | $16,750 |
| Chemistry | $33,900 | $33,900 | $21,591 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $32,900 | $32,900 | $19,250 |
| History | $32,600 | $32,600 | $20,250 |
| Psychology, General | $32,000 | $32,000 | $19,109 |
| Sociology | $31,900 | $31,900 | N/A |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $25,800 | $25,800 | $18,125 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,500 | $24,500 | $19,500 |
| Area Studies | $23,100 | $23,100 | $19,499 |
| Biology, General | $21,700 | $21,700 | $19,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $19,900 | $19,900 | $20,875 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
- Student Body
- 7,055 students
- Admission Rate
- 34%
- Graduation Rate
- 90%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,096
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $73,490
- Median Student Debt
- $18,500