William & Mary (W&M) vs Stanford
William & Mary and Stanford University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a rich history dating back to 1693, while Stanford University, a private research university in Stanford, California, was founded in 1885. With acceptance rates of 34% and 4%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. William & Mary's popular majors include Public Policy, Economics, and History, while Stanford's popular majors include Computer Science, Engineering, and Economics. William & Mary's student body is 53% female and 47% male, while Stanford's student body is 51% female and 49% male. The graduation rate at William & Mary is 88%, while the graduation rate at Stanford is 95%. Explore the comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two esteemed universities and determine which one aligns
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![]() William & Mary |
![]() Stanford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Stanford, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
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% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 3.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
|
SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 15.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 55,471 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 2,190 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 1,757 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 80.2% |
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 | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
$78,898 |
Average net price | $18,399 | $14,402 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
$55,473 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
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Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 58.5% |
International students | 6.2% | 24.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 14,621 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York | California Texas Washington New York Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.0% | 95.5% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 1.7% |
Transferred out | 6.3% | 0.6% |
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)
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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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