Colby vs Williams
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Colby CollegeWaterville, MECompass Score: Exceptional · Top 3%A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MACompass Score: Exceptional · Top 1%
At a glance
- Williams has the higher graduation rate: 94% against 89% at Colby.
- For families earning up to $30,000, Williams has the lower price after aid: $0 or less a year, against $4,049 at Colby.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Williams: $88,665, against $80,490 at Colby.
Scores
Compass Score
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 3%
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 3%
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
Value
AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 5%
A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 3%
The college
Category
Liberal arts colleges
Liberal arts colleges
Location
Waterville, ME
Williamstown, MA
Setting
Town
Town
Students
2,284
2,168
Sports
NCAA Division III · New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA Division III · New England Small College Athletic Conference
Admission
Admission rate
7%
8%
Average SAT
1501
1533
ACT middle 50%
32–34
34–35
Outcomes
Graduation rate
89%
94%
First-year retention
94%
97%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$80,490
$88,665
Median debt
$19,157
$12,761
Cost
Average price after aid
$17,180
$17,716
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$4,049
$0 or less
$30,001–$48,000
$1,251
$0 or less
$48,001–$75,000
$3,666
$0 or less
$75,001–$110,000
$12,106
$3,030
Over $110,000
$46,511
$49,594
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Economics $103,491
- Political science $96,621
- Area studies $64,207
- Natural resources and conservation $55,719
- Computer science $209,574
- Economics $166,678
- Mathematics $134,304
- Political science $88,339
- Psychology $72,891
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.