William & Mary Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

William & Mary is a well-known institution. It has a selective admission process. The acceptance rate of William & Mary is 33.5%. This means that 34 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

How Competitive are William & Mary Admissions?

  • Moderately Competitive: Applicants need good academics and extracurriculars.
  • GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
  • A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.
William & Mary Admission Competitiveness

Since the acceptance rate is low, you need to perform exceptionally well in academics and other activities. However, since it is not below 20%, you still have a chance if your GPA isn't excellent. You can compensate for a lower GPA by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses.

Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.

William & Mary Admission Requirements

William & Mary GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at William & Mary is 4.35. It means that William & Mary is very selective in terms of the GPA. (Most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 4.35, William & Mary requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 4.35 and higher than 4.05 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.95 GPA, to secure admission at William & Mary. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into William & Mary Without SAT Or ACT?: William & Mary considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.



William & Mary SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

William & Mary Average SAT Score: 1465
The average SAT score of the admitted students at William & Mary is 1465 on the 1600 SAT scale.

William & Mary SAT Competitiveness

Competitiveness

This score makes it very Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do very well to score 1465 on the SAT.

Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1520 SAT or 34 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. William & Mary allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.

If your score is below 1375, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to William & Mary. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

William & Mary SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
SAT Math 725680770
SAT Reading 723695750
SAT Composite 146513751520

It means that if you have scored less than 1375 then you are below most of the admitted students at William & Mary and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1520 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1450

Can I get into William & Mary with a 1500 SAT?

With a 1500 SAT Score, your chances of admission at William & Mary are good but the admission staff at William & Mary tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

William & Mary ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at William & Mary is 33.

William & Mary ACT Competitiveness

Competitiveness

This score makes William & Mary very Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do very well to score 33 on the ACT.

William & Mary ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
ACT Math 312834
ACT English 353435
ACT Composite 333234

Can I get into William & Mary with a 34 ACT?

With a 34 ACT Score, your chances of admission at William & Mary are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at William & Mary. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 33.

William & Mary Profile

Name: William & Mary (William & Mary)

City: Williamsburg

URL: https://www.wm.edu/

State: Virginia

Type: Public

Zip: 23187-8795

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)


How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into William & Mary

Boost Your Test Scores: Retake the SAT/ACT if needed. Use resources to improve your score.

Focus on Academics: Maintain a high GPA and take challenging courses.

Extracurricular Activities: William & Mary values well-rounded students who make meaningful contributions to their communities. Here’s how to showcase your strengths:

  • Highlight long-term commitments, and unique accomplishments.
  • Leaderships: Demonstrate clear leadership experience. This is not only true for William & Mary but also other schools. If you cannot demonstrate strong leadership qualities, your chances of acceptance will be low. Work on your weak areas, and improve your communication and interpersonal skills. Also, include your work experiences where you were given leadership responsibilities, and write down your achievements and how you were able to contribute as a team leader and team member.
  • Community Service: Show how you have influenced change in the community and have a strong desire to do so in the future. Also, if you are planning to apply for William & Mary, participate in relevant activities. Work for social welfare and look for opportunities where you can make an impact. Start with your school or student council. Those having positions like president, secretary generals etc… in students councils have better chances. Network with notable people and develop your social media profile accordingly.
  • Passion Projects: Whether it’s starting a club, publishing research, or excelling in the arts, show what sets you apart. Example: If you’ve founded a nonprofit or won a national competition, make sure it’s prominently featured in your application.
  • Align your goals with William & Mary’s mission. Carefully read the objectives and mission of William & Mary on their official website and plan accordingly for each specific point. See how well your profile matches their objectives and goals, and work on the areas where you are lacking.
  • Secure Strong Recommendations: Get letters from professors or employers who know your abilities well. Share your achievements and goals with them for a stronger, more personalized recommendation. If personal statement and recommendations align, your chances of success will be higher.
  • Build a Strong Network: Engage with William & Mary Alumni and current students. Ask them how they planned their scholarship journey, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them. Learn about the key factors behind their success and how they secured their selection.
  • Craft Strong Essays: Tell your story authentically and highlight what makes you unique. College Essay is a very important document. Unlike your transcripts, which just show your numbers or grades, the essay reflects your true personality as a human being. Take considerable time to refine and craft your statement of purpose. Here are the detailed guidelines for writing a winning College Essay form our experts.

Does a degree from William & Mary Worth It?

Getting into William & Mary can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. William & Mary offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at William & Mary is USD: 83534.79 and unemployment rate is 2.61%.

How much does a degree from William & Mary Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at William & Mary is USD: 40624. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at William & Mary is USD: 19442

How can I get a scholarship?

12.75% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 23.26 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to William & Mary and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At William & Mary, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist William & Mary as your choice in the form.

How much a William & Mary Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the William & Mary graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 73490. An average William & Mary graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595



More Competitive

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than William & Mary. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of William & Mary, you'll be competitive for these schools.


SchoolLocationSATACT
Occidental College Occidental College, CA143433
Connecticut College Connecticut College, CT142732
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University, CT142633
George Washington University George Washington University, DC142033
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL144032
Tulane University of Louisiana Tulane University of Louisiana, LA144332
Babson College Babson College, MA143432
Boston University Boston University, MA145433
Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College, MA143232
Smith College Smith College, MA145533


Same Competitive

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as William & Mary. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for William & Mary, you'll be competitive for these schools also.


SchoolLocationSATACT
Scripps College Scripps College, CA146733
University of Maryland-College Park University of Maryland-College Park, MD146132
Brandeis University Brandeis University, MA147333
Smith College Smith College, MA145533
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI147333
More Competitive

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than William & Mary. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.


SchoolLocationSATACT
Claremont McKenna College Claremont McKenna College, CA151434
Harvey Mudd College Harvey Mudd College, CA153935
Pomona College Pomona College, CA152034
University of Southern California University of Southern California, CA152034
Georgetown University Georgetown University, DC150734

Degree Programs


Bachelor Degree Programs


Full list of All degree programs offered by William & Mary.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.

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