Top Public · Williamsburg, VA
William & Mary
Selective. 34.1% acceptance rate.
Calculate your William & Mary oddsHow hard is it to get into William & Mary?
William & Mary is selective, with a 34.1% acceptance rate. Admitted students typically score 1400–1530 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 34.1% |
| SAT (mid-50%) | 1400–1530 |
| ACT (mid-50%) | 32–34 |
| Cost of attendance | $43,035 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,055 |
| Type | Public · Top Public |
| Setting | Campus setting |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
William & Mary's 34.1% acceptance rate puts it in the selective tier. The mid-50% SAT range of 1400–1530 means a quarter of admitted students scored above 1530, and a quarter scored below 1400. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at William & Mary?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorWilliam & Mary Test Score Profile
Admitted students score in the following ranges across SAT sections:
SAT Reading
710–760
25th–75th percentile
SAT Math
690–770
25th–75th percentile
Strong applicants tend to score above the 75th percentile in their stronger section and at or above the 25th percentile in their weaker one. Both numbers are descriptive, not prescriptive. Plenty of admitted students score below the 25th percentile in one section, especially with strong context elsewhere.
Beyond the Numbers
William & Mary is best known for the second-oldest college in the U.S., a tight liberal-arts feel for a public, and a campus in Williamsburg, Virginia. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
William & Mary essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise William & Mary essays with tools tuned to William & Mary's prompts.
William & Mary vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Top Public schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| William & Mary This page | 34.1% | 1400–1530 | — |
| UC Berkeley | 11.0% | — | $13,481 |
| UCLA | 9.0% | — | $12,548 |
| UC San Diego | 26.7% | — | $12,470 |
| Michigan | 15.6% | 1360–1530 | $13,138 |
| UNC | 15.3% | 1390–1530 | $11,655 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into William & Mary?
William & Mary is selective. The most recently published acceptance rate is 34.1%. Admitted students score in the 1400–1530 SAT range. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
What SAT score do I need for William & Mary?
Admitted students at William & Mary typically score between 1400 and 1530 on the SAT. A quarter of admits scored above 1530, and a quarter scored below 1400. Scores in this range are competitive but do not guarantee admission.
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with William & Mary's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- William & Mary Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect William & Mary's most recent publicly published admit cycle.