Williams College
Williams College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Williams College at a Glance
Williams College is a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams, a colonist from the Province of Massachusetts Bay who was killed in the French and Indian War in 1755.
1793
233 years old
$3.9B
$3.93 billion (2025)
2,150
2,101 undergrad · 49 grad
356
450 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Williams College
Official admissions pageJanuary 3
November 8 (Early Decision, binding)
$65
Fee waiver available
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
Interview
Fee waiver
Is Williams College Worth It?
Williams College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $17,716/year net price and $88,665 median earnings, graduates earn 5.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 95% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 8%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $12,761 is manageable at just 14% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Williams College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Williams College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 18 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 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #2 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #3 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| #6 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Williams College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in MA.
Best Programs at Williams College
The highest-earning program at Williams College is Computer Science at $91,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $30,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Williams College earns $91,000, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $30,200. 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 $15,000 in median debt vs. $14,250 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,716/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 | $91,000 | $91,000 | $15,000 |
| Economics | $73,500 | $73,500 | $12,000 |
| Mathematics | $53,700 | $53,700 | $14,986 |
| Political Science and Government | $44,300 | $44,300 | $13,344 |
| History | $44,100 | $44,100 | $14,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $38,900 | $38,900 | $13,746 |
| Biology, General | $37,400 | $37,400 | $9,257 |
| Psychology, General | $36,100 | $36,100 | $14,114 |
| Chemistry | $33,100 | $33,100 | $8,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $30,200 | $30,200 | $14,250 |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Williamstown, MA
- Student Body
- 2,076 students
- Admission Rate
- 8%
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,716
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $88,665
- Median Student Debt
- $12,761