Williams, Amherst & Middlebury Research Notes
williams_amherst_middlebury.md
Williams, Amherst & Middlebury Research Notes
Williams College
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: 15,400
- Overall acceptance rate: 8.3%
- ED acceptance rate: 26.6%
- RD acceptance rate: 5.5%
- Class size: 540
- Yield: 43%
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1500–1560
- ACT middle 50%: 34–35
- Avg unweighted GPA: 3.93
- Top 10% of HS class: 92%
- Testing policy: Test-optional
Round Strategy
- ED (binding) — 26.6% ED rate vs 7.3% RD rate (~3.6x advantage)
- Does not offer EA
Demographics
- Women: 50.8%, Asian: 10.5%, Black: 6.9%, Hispanic: 11.4%, White: 55.2%, International: 9.0%
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $3,870 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,400 |
| Over $110,000 | $41,974 |
Athletics
- NCAA Division III — no athletic scholarships
- Strong varsity program for its size; many sports across Division III
Notable
Consistently ranked #1 or #2 national liberal arts college (US News). Tutorial system — many courses taught in small groups or 1-on-1 with professors. Strong need-based aid. Located in Williamstown, MA (rural setting). Smaller and more intimate than most Ivy alternatives.
Amherst College
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: 17,300
- Overall acceptance rate: 9.0%
- ED acceptance rate: 25.0%
- RD acceptance rate: 6.0%
- Class size: 470
- Yield: 40%
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1500–1560
- ACT middle 50%: 33–35
- Avg unweighted GPA: 3.92
- Top 10% of HS class: 90%
- Testing policy: Test-optional
Round Strategy
- ED (binding) — 25.0% ED rate vs ~6.0% RD rate (~4.2x advantage)
- Does not offer EA
Demographics
- Women: 48.3%, Asian: 13.1%, Black: 12.4%, Hispanic: 13.1%, White: 41.9%, International: 9.6%
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $4,491 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,800 |
| Over $110,000 | $43,908 |
Athletics
- NCAA Division III — no athletic scholarships
- Part of NESCAC conference
Notable
Open curriculum — no core requirements. Need-blind admissions for domestic and international students. Among the most diverse LACs (Black 12.4%, Hispanic 13.1%). ED fills ~40% of class. Five College Consortium with UMass Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire.
Middlebury College
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: 13,200
- Overall acceptance rate: 10.7%
- ED acceptance rate: 30.0%
- RD acceptance rate: 5.0%
- Class size: 700
- Yield: 34%
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1440–1550
- ACT middle 50%: 33–35
- Avg unweighted GPA: 3.88
- Top 10% of HS class: 85%
- Testing policy: Test-optional
Round Strategy
- Offers both ED I and ED II (binding)
- ED rate 30.0% vs RD rate 5.0% (~6x advantage — one of the largest ED premiums nationally)
- Does not offer EA
Demographics
- Women: 51.8%, Asian: 6.7%, Black: 2.9%, Hispanic: 8.7%, White: 64.5%, International: 10.7%
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $5,750 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,100 |
| Over $110,000 | $39,523 |
Athletics
- NCAA Division III, NESCAC Conference
- Strong skiing and outdoor sports culture given Vermont location
Notable
Strongest ED premium of any Top LAC — 30% ED vs 5% RD (~6x). Renowned language programs (summer language schools are world-famous). Located in Middlebury, VT. Environmental studies flagship. Lower than average test scores relative to Williams/Amherst; compensates with holistic fit assessment.
Sources
- Williams College Common Data Set 2024–2025
- Amherst College Common Data Set 2024–2025
- Middlebury College Common Data Set 2024–2025
- research_colleges.json simulation data