Colleges › Virginia › William & Mary
William & Mary acceptance rate, GPA needed and real cost
Also known as W&M
William & Mary accepts 34% of applicants. It is a public university in Williamsburg, Virginia, with about 7,055 undergraduates. The sticker price is $43,057 a year for state residents, but after aid the average family pays $18,880.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
What GPA do you need for W&M?
Even with a 4.0 unweighted GPA, Admitly estimates a typical Virginia resident has about a 42% chance, so a top GPA is expected and the rest of the application decides most outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Education does not collect high school GPAs, so Admitly does not publish an "average GPA" figure. Colleges that report one do so in their own Common Data Set.
Chances of getting into William & Mary by GPA
Assumes an SAT of 1440, the middle score for admitted students (tests are optional here). A higher or lower score moves these numbers. GPA is unweighted, on a 4.0 scale.
| GPA | Virginia resident | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 8% Reach | 2% Reach |
| 3.3 | 8% Reach | 2% Reach |
| 3.5 | 14% Reach | 4% Reach |
| 3.7 | 23% Reach | 8% Reach |
| 3.9 | 35% Target | 14% Reach |
| 4.0 | 42% Target | 18% Reach |
Likely = 80% or higher, Target = 30–80%, Reach = under 30%. Course rigour, class rank, activities and AP scores all change the estimate.
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Check my chancesWhat families actually pay at William & Mary
Yearly cost after need-based grants, by household income. Sticker price is $43,057 a year for state residents including room and board.
| Family income | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | $10,800 | $25,600 |
| $50k – $100k | $10,800 | $28,700 |
| $100k – $150k | $14,300 | $36,600 |
| $150k – $250k | $40,000 | $62,300 |
| Over $250k | $43,057 | $66,000 |
Out-of-state figures add most of the tuition difference, since state grants rarely follow students across state lines.
Outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
Common questions about William & Mary
What is the acceptance rate at William & Mary?
William & Mary admits 34% of applicants, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
What GPA do you need to get into William & Mary?
Even with a 4.0 unweighted GPA, Admitly estimates a typical Virginia resident has about a 42% chance, so a top GPA is expected and the rest of the application decides most outcomes. This is an estimate from Admitly's admission model, not an official cutoff: course rigour, test scores, activities and essays all matter.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for William & Mary?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1400–1530 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT. Submitting scores is optional.
How much does William & Mary cost after financial aid?
The sticker price is $43,057 a year for state residents including room and board, but the average family pays $18,880 after grants. Families earning under $50k pay about $10,800 in-state.
What is the graduation rate at William & Mary?
88% of students finish their degree, and 95% return for a second year.
Colleges similar to William & Mary
- University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA · admits 17%
- Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · admits 55%
- James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · admits 72%
- University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · admits 33%
- San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · admits 36%
- Cal Poly San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · admits 31%