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College Comparison

Michigan State vs Williams College: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

Michigan State

East Lansing, MI

School

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricMichigan StateWilliams
Acceptance Rate83.9%10.0%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1150–13501470–1560wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)26–3133–35wins
Tuition (Out-of-State)$43,372wins$64,860
Avg Net Price$20,751$14,852wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$67,253$88,665wins
Graduation Rate82.2%96.5%wins
Retention Rate91.4%96.5%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio17:16:1wins
Total Enrollment40,243wins2,060

Verdict

Based on the data above, Williams edges out Michigan State on 8 of 10 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

Michigan State Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $43,372
  • Total Enrollment: 40,243

Williams Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 10.0%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1470–1560
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 33–35
  • Avg Net Price: $14,852

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