William & Mary (W&M) vs Vanderbilt
William & Mary and Vanderbilt University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, nestled in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Vanderbilt, located in vibrant Nashville, Tennessee, attracts a more diverse student population and offers a wider range of academic programs. Both universities excel in liberal arts and sciences, but William & Mary is known for its strong government and public policy programs, while Vanderbilt is renowned for its engineering and music schools. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover more about these exceptional universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() William & Mary |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
$79,538 |
Average net price | $18,399 | $27,553 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
$54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
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Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 89.5% |
International students | 6.2% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 5,598 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.0% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 6.4% |
Transferred out | 6.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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