William & Mary (W&M) vs Notre Dame
William & Mary and the University of Notre Dame, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a lower acceptance rate (34%) compared to Notre Dame's 18%. Both universities excel in various disciplines, with William & Mary excelling in fields like history, public policy, and business, while Notre Dame shines in engineering, business, and the arts. Their student bodies reflect diverse backgrounds, with Notre Dame having a slightly larger undergraduate population. While William & Mary's graduation rate stands at 88%, Notre Dame's is slightly higher at 91%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() William & Mary |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
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Overview |
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Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 15.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 36.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 57.8% |
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 | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
$78,347 |
Average net price | $18,399 | $30,513 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
$58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
$16,304 |
Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 93.1% |
International students | 6.2% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 6,919 |
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 | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.0% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 3.9% |
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)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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