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College Comparison

UC San Diego 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

UC San Diego

La Jolla, CA

School

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC San DiegoWilliams
Acceptance Rate24.5%10.0%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/A1470–1560wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/A33–35
Tuition (Out-of-State)$46,042wins$64,860
Avg Net Price$11,750wins$14,852
Median Earnings (10 yr)$84,943$88,665wins
Graduation Rate87.6%96.5%wins
Retention Rate93.9%96.5%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio19:16:1wins
Total Enrollment33,787wins2,060

Verdict

Based on the data above, Williams edges out UC San Diego on 6 of 9 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.

UC San Diego Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $46,042
  • Avg Net Price: $11,750
  • Total Enrollment: 33,787

Williams Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 10.0%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1470–1560
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $88,665
  • Graduation Rate: 96.5%

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