Is Amherst or Williams harder to get into?

Williams is harder to get into than Amherst. Williams's 8.3% acceptance rate is lower than Amherst's 9.0%.

Which is cheaper, Amherst or Williams?

Williams costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Williams's average net price is $17,716 vs $23,367 at Amherst.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Amherst or Williams?

Williams graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $77,644 at Amherst and $88,665 at Williams.

Amherst vs. Williams: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Amherst	Williams
Acceptance rate	9.0%	8.3%
SAT mid-50%	1490–1580	1490–1570
ACT mid-50%	33–35	34–35
Cost of attendance	$87,640	$84,860
Avg net price (after aid)	$23,367	$17,716
Undergrad enrollment	1,911	2,076
6-yr graduation rate	93.9%	93.6%
Median earnings (10yr)	$77,644	$88,665
Setting	Amherst, Massachusetts	Williamstown, Massachusetts

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Amherst's 9.0% acceptance rate and Williams's 8.3% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Williams is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $5,651 per year, $22,604 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Williams graduates earn $11,021 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Amherst grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Amherst has a more international student body (13.1% non-resident students vs 8.8%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Amherst is 54.9% women, 13.1% international, and 16.5% Asian-American. Williams is 52.5% women, 8.8% international, and 12.5% Asian-American.

Demographic	Amherst	Williams
Women	54.9%	52.5%
International	13.1%	8.8%
White	36.4%	46.6%
Asian	16.5%	12.5%
Hispanic	13.8%	14.1%
Black	8.9%	6.1%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Amherst vs. Williams?

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The Verdict

Pick Amherst if

Your odds are realistic at Amherst (slightly easier admit)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the open curriculum

Pick Williams if

Net price matters: Williams costs $5,651 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($88,665 vs $77,644)
tutorials that replicate Oxford-style two-student seminars

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Amherst College

9.0% accept · Amherst, Massachusetts

Full profile

Williams College

8.3% accept · Williamstown, Massachusetts

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Amherst College vs. Williams College