William & Mary (W&M) vs NorthWestern
William & Mary and Northwestern University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, nestled in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a strong liberal arts foundation and a vibrant campus community. Northwestern University, located in vibrant Evanston, Illinois, is renowned for its research prowess and diverse academic offerings. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() William & Mary |
![]() Northwestern University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Evanston, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 99.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 7.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$95
|
SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 43.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 47,636 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 3,321 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 2,086 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 62.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
$83,838 |
Average net price | $18,399 | $29,999 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
$60,276 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
Room/dormitory:
$11,271
Meal plan:
$6,993
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
57.0%
Average amount $51,087 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
23.0%
Average amount $4,625 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
2.0%
Average amount $38,595 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 35.2% | N/A |
International students | 6.2% | 17.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 4,409 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 91.0% | 95.2% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 4.2% |
Transferred out | 6.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.










































































































































































