Is Williams test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1520 and hold it if it's under.

What is Williams's acceptance rate?

8.3% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,272 of 15,411 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 124%, from 6,883 in 2015 to 15,411 in 2024, and Williams's admit rate went from 18% to 8.3%.

What ACT score do you need for Williams?

18% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1490–1550 works out to about 34–35.

Why might Williams's SAT range look high?

Only 43% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Williams?

27% of early decision applicants were admitted (256 of 964), against 8.3% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Williams?

25 of the 850 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 2.9%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Williams? (Middle 50%: 1490–1550)

First-year students at Williams who sent an SAT scored 1490–1550, with a median of 1520 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Williams admits 8.3% of applicants and is test optional.

Williams College · Williamstown, MA

Where your score lands at Williams

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1490–1550, median 1520

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Williams is for you and whether to send your score.

Add Williams to my list

Williams by the numbers

Admit rate: 8.3%
Middle 50% SAT: 1490–1550
Median SAT: 1520
About on the ACT: 34–35
Sent an SAT: 43%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Williams admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Williams admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 124%, from 6,883 in 2015 to 15,411 in 2024, and Williams's admit rate went from 18% to 8.3%.

18%
8.3%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	15,411	1,272	8.3%
2023	11,465	1,145	10%
2022	15,321	1,302	8.5%
2021	12,452	1,099	8.8%
2020	8,744	1,322	15%
2019	9,715	1,224	13%
2018	9,560	1,240	13%
2017	8,593	1,253	15%
2016	6,985	1,230	18%
2015	6,883	1,212	18%

In fall 2024, 547 of the 1,272 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Williams

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1520Far reachHold
1520–1540Far reachSend
1550 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Williams SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	740	770	790
SAT Reading and Writing	740	750	770
SAT total	1490	1520	1550
ACT composite	33	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 43% sent an SAT and 18% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Top 10% of their class: 88%; of new students who reported a rank

Williams early decision and waitlist

Early decision

256 of 964 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision27%
All applicants8.3%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,193 applicants were offered a spot, 850 took it, and 25 were admitted from it.

2.9%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Williams cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $17,716; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 94%
Median earnings: $88,665; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,292

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Williams

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Williams Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Williams admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Williams website
Williams College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1490–1550, and the median was 1520. At 1520 or higher you're above half of them. Williams admits 8.3% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

Raise your score before you apply

The 15-minute starting check finds the question types costing you points, then plans each day up to your test date.

Start SAT free Check your whole list

Starting check

SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$