34.1%
Acceptance Rate
$25,914
Avg Cost (In-State)
$51,038
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
90.2%
Graduation Rate
7,055
Total Enrollment
We're showing you this because it offers your suggested major.
← Back to international relations collegesBy the numbers
William & Mary, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
2
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Not required
Essays: Common App personal essay plus one supplemental essay (300 words)
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$62,959
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$73,490
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
90%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government. | $41,317 | $72,173 | 113 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $75,038 | $111,366 | 110 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | $38,590 | $70,523 | 106 |
| Psychology, General. | $36,818 | $59,226 | 67 |
| Biology, General. | $29,851 | $49,644 | 67 |
| Economics. | $65,603 | $105,467 | 65 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | $27,114 | $68,992 | 57 |
| Computer Science. | $84,956 | $127,851 | 51 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at William & Mary
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend William & Mary
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
JMU Madison Achievement Scholarship
$1,000-$3,000/year
universityJMU students demonstrating academic merit + need.
Deadline: March 1
Learn more ↗Old Dominion University Monarch Award
$3,000-$12,000/year
universityTop ODU freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Hampden-Sydney College Trustee Scholarship
Full tuition + room/board
universityTop H-S incoming freshmen via competitive process; men's college.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗VA Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)
Tuition + fees waived at VA publics
stateVA veterans' spouses/children with service-connected death/disability.
Deadline: Through VA Dept of Veterans Services
Learn more ↗Old Dominion Monarch Distinguished Scholarship
Full tuition + room/board
universityTop ODU freshmen via competitive process; academic + leadership.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Hampton University Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition
universityTop Hampton incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗JMU Centennial Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance + mentor + summer programs
universityJMU underrepresented incoming freshmen with academic merit + leadership.
Deadline: Through JMU admission
Learn more ↗Virginia Tech University Honors Scholarship
$3,000-$8,000/year
universityVT Honors College students with top academic profile.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗UVA McIntire Commerce School Scholarships
$1,000-$10,000/year (various)
universityMcIntire Commerce students with academic merit (3rd/4th year).
Deadline: February 1
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $3,106 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $881 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $5,916 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $16,803 |
| $110,001+ | $34,370 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for William & Mary →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 34.1% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Early Decision I
50%
acceptance
Early Decision II
38%
acceptance
Regular Decision
30%
acceptance
Overall ~33%.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
11.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
11.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
62.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
14.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
37.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
96.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
92.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From VA community colleges
articulation onlyW&M participates in the Virginia Community College System's Guaranteed Admission Agreement: VCCS students who earn an associate degree with at least a 3.6 GPA and meet course requirements receive guaranteed admission. The general transfer admit rate runs roughly 45-55%, with prio…
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