College of William & Mary: Acceptance Rate & Admission Requirements (2026)

College of William & Mary's 33% acceptance rate makes it selective but realistically attainable for well-prepared students. Unlike the most elite schools, applicants who clearly meet the academic profile have a solid chance, and a strong application — coherent essays, relevant activities, a clear narrative — can be decisive rather than merely a tiebreaker.

For students at or above the school's academic profile, College of William & Mary is a target rather than a reach. A focused, well-edited application can be the difference, so it is worth real effort here.

Admitted students at College of William & Mary typically score between 1370 and 1500 on the SAT — this is the middle 50% range, so a quarter of enrolled students scored below 1370 and a quarter above 1500. A score at or above 1500 is competitive even at the more selective end of the pool. Alongside test scores, the average GPA of admitted students is approximately 4.27 on a 4.0 scale, indicating that successful applicants generally earned mostly A's in a rigorous course load.

As a planning benchmark, aim for an SAT around 1435 or higher and a GPA at or near 4.27. Scores meaningfully below the 25th percentile (1370) are not disqualifying on their own, but they put more weight on the rest of the application to compensate.

College of William & Mary offers both an Early Decision deadline (Nov 1) and an Early Action deadline (Nov 1), with Regular Decision closing on Jan 1. Early Decision is a binding commitment: if admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications, so only apply ED if College of William & Mary is unambiguously your first choice and the cost is workable without comparing aid offers. Early Action (Nov 1) is non-binding — it signals strong interest and gets you an earlier answer while leaving you free to compare options in the spring.

Whichever round you choose, give recommenders at least three to four weeks of notice and budget time for essay revisions — the strongest applications are rarely written in the final week before Jan 1.

College of William & Mary is particularly known for Government, Business, Biology, Psychology, and History.

Strong programs matter for admissions because many schools admit by college or major, and a credible, specific interest in one of these areas — reflected in your coursework, activities, and essays — is far more persuasive than a generic application.

As a public institution with separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, College of William & Mary costs significantly less for Virginia residents: in-state tuition is about $26,167 per year versus roughly $51,210 for out-of-state students — a difference of around $25,043 annually. If you are not a Virginia resident, factor the higher rate into your list, and check whether the school offers merit scholarships or regional exchange programs that narrow the gap.

Tuition is only part of the cost — add room, board, fees, and personal expenses for a realistic total — but the in-state advantage makes College of William & Mary an especially strong value for state residents.