Williams College vs Harvard University

Williamstown, MA · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate

Scorecard match plate

Pair MA:MA

PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · SAME-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT

  • PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
  • SAME-STATE Same state · MA
  • ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
  • NET-PAR Net near-par
  • EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
  • DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
  • COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
  • GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate

Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023

TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023

Williams College and Harvard University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.

  • Williams College: acceptance rate tightened -41.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
  • Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
  • Williams College: net price ranged $14,739–$26,775 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -29.1% is not a trend (r² 0.09).
  • Harvard University: net price ranged $13,259–$19,500 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +19.7% is not a trend (r² 0.10).

College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.

Scorecard metrics

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: Williams College vs Harvard University

  1. ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 8.3% at Williams College)
  2. MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Harvard University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($99,572 vs $71,754 at Williams College)
  3. MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 Harvard University leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($101,817 vs $88,665 at Williams College)

Williams College profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges

Also on the Scorecard board

Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions

On acceptance rate, who leads between Williams College and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 8.3% at Williams College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Williams College and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $99,572 versus $71,754 at Williams College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Williams College and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $101,817 versus $88,665 at Williams College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025