The College of William & Mary admitted 6,001 students from a pool of 17,432 applicants for the Class of 2030, an acceptance rate of 34% — down two percentage points from last year. The middle-50% SAT range is 1420–1520, a slight increase from 1410–1520 for the Class of 2029. The ACT range held steady at 33–35. The admitted class spans 57 countries, up from 41 the previous year, and includes a 3% increase in first-generation, in-state admits.

William & Mary's admissions office released Class of 2030 data this week, providing a detailed look at who earned a spot in Williamsburg this fall.

The numbers tell a consistent story: W&M is modestly more selective than last year, test scores edged up slightly, and the incoming class is significantly more international. Here's what the data shows — and what it means if you're building your list.

The Core Numbers

From an applicant pool of 17,432, the College of William & Mary offered admission to 6,001 students, an acceptance rate of 34 percent.1

That's two points down from the Class of 2029, which was admitted at 36 percent. The directional trend is consistent with prior years: the applicant pool is growing, and the admit rate is slowly tightening.

For comparison, W&M sits in an interesting tier: it's a public university — part of the Commonwealth of Virginia — but its selectivity puts it in range with many well-regarded private schools. At in-state tuition, it's one of the better value propositions in public higher education.

Test Score Ranges

The middle-50% SAT range for the Class of 2030 is 1420–1520.1

That's a slight increase from 1410–1520 for the Class of 2029. The lower bound moved up by 10 points; the upper bound stayed the same.

The ACT range remained at 33–35, matching last year exactly.1

A few things to know about how to read these ranges: The middle 50% means 25% of admitted students scored below 1420 and 25% scored above 1520 on the SAT. Scoring within the range doesn't guarantee admission, and scoring below it doesn't make it impossible — especially for in-state applicants with other strong factors.

If you're still deciding between the SAT and ACT, the SAT vs. ACT guide walks through the differences and how to figure out which test suits you better.

A More International Class

The Class of 2030 spans 57 countries — up significantly from 41 countries for the Class of 2029.1

That's a 39% increase in geographic representation in a single year. W&M doesn't publish separate acceptance rates for domestic versus international applicants, but the jump suggests a deliberate effort to widen the global reach of each incoming class.

First-Generation Students and Fee Waivers

Two data points in this year's release stand out for first-generation college students and lower-income applicants:

  • In-state, first-generation students offered admission increased by 3 percent compared to last year.1
  • In-state students who applied using an application fee waiver and were admitted increased by 5 percent.1

These numbers indicate that W&M is actively tracking and expanding access for first-generation and lower-income Virginia applicants. If you're a Virginia resident in either category, fee waivers and first-gen status won't hurt your chances — the school is explicitly moving the needle in that direction.

W&M holds an admitted student open house called "Tribe Days" in April. If you're still deciding and have until May 1, attending in person gives you a read on campus culture that no admissions data can capture. The May 1 decision deadline guide covers what to weigh before you commit.

How W&M Fits on a College List

William & Mary sits at a 34% acceptance rate, which places it solidly in the "target school" tier for a competitive applicant — not a certain admit, but genuinely reachable if your scores, GPA, and application are in range.

For Virginia residents, the cost equation is particularly strong. In-state tuition at W&M is dramatically lower than comparable private schools with similar academic profiles.

For out-of-state applicants, the math looks more like a private school — you're paying a higher price for what is still a highly regarded institution, so the comparison to equivalently selective private schools matters more in your cost analysis.

When thinking about where W&M fits in your overall list strategy, the guide to how many colleges to apply to gives useful framing for balancing reach, target, and safety schools.

For context on how W&M's 34% rate sits in the national picture, college acceptance rates across the country provides that comparison.

What the Data Doesn't Tell You

Aggregate admissions data tells you a lot — and leaves out a lot.

These numbers don't show:

  • How admit rates vary by school or major within W&M (the Mason School of Business, the School of Education, and the College of Arts & Sciences have different competitive landscapes)
  • How early decision applicants fared versus regular decision — ED typically has a meaningfully higher admit rate at schools that offer it; our early decision vs. early action guide explains how that dynamic works
  • How waitlist movement looks this year

If you received a waitlist offer and are deciding whether to stay on it, the college waitlist strategy guide covers what actually moves the needle after the initial decision comes out.

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Footnotes

  1. Flat Hat News. (2026, April 14). Data breakdown: Prospective class of 2030. Flat Hat News. https://flathatnews.com/2026/04/14/data-breakdown-prospective-class-of-2030/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. William & Mary News. (2026, April 8). William & Mary welcomes admitted Class of 2030 to campus. William & Mary. https://news.wm.edu/2026/04/08/william-mary-welcomes-admitted-class-of-2030-to-campus/ ↩