880 Main Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Williams college, founded in 1793, is the second oldest college in Massachusetts. The private, residential, liberal arts college, with graduate programs in the history of art and in development economics, is located on a 450-acre rural campus with 2,900 outlying acres, including the Hopkins Memorial Forest. Surrounded by the hills and mountains of Appalachia's northern section, Williams College is 15 minutes from the 61 trails at two alpine ski centers-- a hiker's paradise. There are more than 100 academic, athletic and residential buildings on the Williams campus.

There are more than 2,000 undergraduate students enrolled at Williams College pursuing a course of study from among 33 academic majors and 17 concentrations and special programs. There are three academic divisions, which include humanities, sciences, and social sciences. More than one-fourth of Williams' students double and even triple their major. The median class size is 14 students, and about 80 percent of all classes have fewer than 26 students. The student to faculty ratio is seven to one. About 97 percent of the faculty hold doctorates or other terminal degrees.

The academic year consists of two four-course semesters plus a one-course January term.

Quick Facts

Approximately 40 percent of all students participate in intercollegiate sports.

More than 90 percent of Williams students graduate within four years.

More than 65 percent of Williams College alumni have earned at least one graduate or professional degree.

More than 99 percent of Williams students applying to law schools, business schools, or science Ph.D. programs are accepted.

The Hopkins Observatory at Williams, dating from 1838, is the oldest astronomical observatory in the U.S.

Williams is committed to a need-blind admission policy, meaning it admits students without regard to their ability to pay and commits to meeting 100 percent of each admitted student's financial need for four years.

Fraternities were phased out at Williams College beginning in 1962.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.