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Colleges / Williams College

Williams College

Williamstown, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate8%

Williams Tuition Information

In 2022, Williams's tuition was $64,540 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 5.03%–from $61,450 the previous year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition does not always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students owe way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Williams College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Williams College full-time are awarded $65,134 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2023 was around $13,341 per student, not including those with no debt.

Does Williams College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Williams College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can drastically reduce the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Take the time to check your state's rules for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Tuition for International Students at Williams College

Tuition at Williams College is the same for all students.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or Williams College-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Williams College:

•On-campus jobs •Williams College-specific loans •Williams College-specific scholarships


Williams College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Williams College.

Room and Board Costs at Williams College

Room and board at Williams College is $16,300 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that allows you to eat in the Williams College's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Williams College

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Williams College

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. At Williams College, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city is sometimes pricey, but cities may offer more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The Williams College campus is in a town in Massachusetts, not far from Albany NY.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to factor in personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


Financial Breakdown for Williams College


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Williams College.

How Much Does Williams College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Williams College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $64,540
Room and Board $16,300
Other expenses $1,850

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $83,010
Off-Campus $64,860

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at Williams College


The majority of Williams College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 1,086 of the 2,152 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Williams College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $65,134 a year. Around 31.81% of Williams College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Williams College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $13,341 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $11,231
Williams College-Specific Loans $5,133
Private Loans $39,304
Most Common Loans for Williams College Students
Federal Loans 27.44%
Institutional Loans 4.37%
Private loans 2.39%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Williams College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Williams College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Williams College awarded 1,086 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $71.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.99 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Williams College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Williams College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Williams College was $65,134 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Williams College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $17,876
Off-Campus $-274

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending Williams College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Williams College's net cost calculator on their website.

Williams College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Williams College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Williams College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Williams College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Williams College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Williams College's endowment was $3.3 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Williams College spends about $51,387 a year.


Learn More About Williams College


To learn more about Williams College, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Williams College

Williams Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$81,160

In State

$81,160

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$64,540
$64,540
Fees
$320
$320
Housing
$16,300
$16,300
Books
Unknown
Unknown

Williams Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

51%

Average Financial Aid Package

$66,083

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,205

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

8%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$64,860

Out-of-State

$64,860

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 9
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