William & Mary Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on September 20, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~35%
- Middle 50% ACT: 32-34
- Middle 50% SAT: 1390-1510
- Average GPA: 4.16-4.51
William & Mary is one of the few schools where the scholarship page and the affordability page are two different stories. There is no chart where a certain GPA and test score buy you a certain dollar amount. Every named merit award at W&M goes to students the admission office picks out of the pile, and the average merit award runs somewhere around $6,800. What W&M does do, and does seriously, is need-based aid: it typically meets 100% of demonstrated need for Virginia residents, and in-state Pell-eligible students are guaranteed enough scholarship help to cover at least tuition and fees.
So the planning advice for most families is simple. Build your budget off the net price calculator and the need-based package, and treat any merit award as a bonus you did not count on.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 William & Mary at a Glance
- There is no automatic merit at W&M. No GPA cutoff, no test cutoff, no guaranteed award. Everything named is chosen through admission review.
- Your admission application is your scholarship application. Every first-year applicant is considered for all four merit programs with no separate form. Apply by the first-year deadline and you are in the pool. Miss it and there is no second door.
- FAFSA and CSS do not affect merit. W&M says plainly that those forms are not used for merit decisions. You still need both for need-based aid, and W&M requires the CSS Profile on top of the FAFSA for first-year and transfer students.
- Out-of-state winners still have a gap. The 1693 Scholars and W&M Scholars awards are both valued at the in-state tuition and fee amount. For a Virginian that is a huge award. For a non-resident it covers roughly half the tuition line.
- No waiver, no reciprocity. W&M has no broad out-of-state tuition waiver and is not part of a regional exchange program. Plan around the published non-resident rate.
- Test-optional, and it matters. About 40% of a recent class applied without scores, and W&M says merit consideration does not require them. The published score ranges only describe students who chose to submit.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. William & Mary is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 32-34; SAT: 1390-1510.
Average net price? About $19,686/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No broad regional reciprocity path.
CollegeReadyParent VA state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/virginia/
W&M Financial Aid - Merit Awards for Incoming First-Year Students: https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/merit/
W&M Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS - Major in Coastal & Marine Sciences: https://www.vims.edu/academics/wm_undergrad/major/
W&M - WMSURE / William & Mary Scholars: https://www.wm.edu/as/wmsure/wm-scholars/
W&M Financial Aid - Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship & Memorial Program: https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/department-awards/wm-eacasmp/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at William & Mary: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest William & Mary has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $900 to $2,200 more than the in-state total below. $1,400 to $3,600 more than the out-of-state total below.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $27,235 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $17,646 |
| Total billed cost | $44,881 |
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $54,249 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $17,646 |
| Total billed cost | $71,895 |
That is $27,014 more per year than Virginia residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $19,686 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Classes in the Mason School of Business and in the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics carry supplemental credit-hour fees on top of standard tuition. They are real charges on the bill, and they are not in the tuition table above. If your student is heading toward business, computer science, data science or physics, ask the bursar what the current per-credit supplement runs before you lock in a four-year budget.
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at William & Mary
Why is the out-of-state number so much higher?
Virginia taxpayers subsidize the in-state rate, and non-residents pay the unsubsidized price. At W&M the tuition line alone is roughly $19,700 in-state versus about $46,200 out-of-state. Fees, housing and food are the same for everybody, so the whole gap sits in that one line.
Is the average net price really under $20,000?
That figure is the federal average for students who received grant or scholarship aid, and it is heavily weighted toward Virginia residents, who make up most of the student body and get the deepest aid. An out-of-state family with no demonstrated need should expect to pay close to the published total. Run the net price calculator with your own numbers before you use any average.
Does W&M meet full financial need?
W&M says it typically meets 100% of demonstrated need for in-state undergraduates, and that in-state Pell-eligible students automatically receive scholarship help covering at least tuition and fees. Out-of-state need is met as resources allow rather than guaranteed, which is the single biggest difference between the two experiences.
Can an out-of-state student get the in-state rate?
Not through a waiver or a regional exchange, because W&M has neither. Virginia residency for tuition purposes is a legal determination under state law, and moving to Virginia to attend college does not establish it. The realistic paths to a lower non-resident cost are need-based aid and the selective merit awards described further down this page.
What is actually on the bill, and what is just an estimate?
Tuition, fees, campus housing and the meal plan are billed by the university. Books, transportation, personal expenses and possible loan fees are planning allowances, not charges. W&M’s published allowance runs about $900 for books, $785 for transportation and $2,000 for personal expenses. Those numbers still cost you real money, they just are not on the invoice.
Do these costs go up each year?
Yes. The W&M Board of Visitors votes on undergraduate rates each April for the coming year, so the figures you see in the fall are estimates until that vote. Budget for modest annual increases across all four years rather than assuming freshman-year pricing holds.
Which aid forms does W&M require, and when?
Both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile for first-year and transfer students. Priority filing is November 15 for Early Decision I (CSS first, FAFSA when it opens), January 15 for Early Decision II and February 1 for Regular Decision, with a final date of March 1. W&M warns that applications after those dates are not guaranteed grant consideration.
https://www.wm.edu/admission/tuition/
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/resources/announcements/fafsacss-profile-deadlines.php
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/costs-aid/in-state/pell-grant-guarantee/
📅 W&M Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- November 1: Early Decision I applicants are in the merit pool as of this date. CSS Profile priority for need-based aid is November 15.
- January 5: The first-year application deadline for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. This is the real scholarship deadline, because merit consideration rides on the admission application.
- February: About 200 students are tapped as 1693 semi-finalists and asked for one extra essay and a short video, with roughly two weeks to respond.
- March: Finalists and recipients for the merit awards are notified. Interviews and faculty presentations happen this month.
- April: 1693 Finalist Weekend on campus, then final selections.
Parent rule of thumb: there is no separate scholarship form to chase here. Getting the application in early and complete is the entire strategy.
Automatic Merit Scholarships — William & Mary
This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.
One thing here is close to automatic, and it is need-based. In-state students who qualify for a federal Pell Grant automatically receive W&M scholarship assistance covering at least tuition and fees. W&M also says it typically meets 100% of demonstrated need for Virginia residents. That is not a merit award, but for a Virginia family with real need it is worth more than most merit grids in the region.
Automatic Merit — FAQs (William & Mary)
Does W&M have any guaranteed scholarship for high stats?
No. The four merit programs are the 1693 Scholars, William & Mary Scholars, Provost Scholar Awards and James Monroe Scholars, and all four are selective. Test scores and GPA help your case, but nothing on this campus is awarded by formula.
Do I have to apply separately for merit?
No, and that cuts both ways. Every first-year applicant is automatically reviewed for all four programs, so there is no extra form to submit and no extra deadline to track. The flip side is that you cannot improve your odds by filing something additional.
Does W&M superscore?
Yes. W&M superscores both the SAT and the ACT if you test more than once, and if you send both tests, it uses whichever helps your case more.
Do I need test scores to be considered for merit?
No. W&M is completely test-optional and states that all applicants are considered for its merit programs whether or not they submit scores. About 40% of a recent entering class applied without them.
When will we know?
Merit recipients and finalists are notified in March of senior year. Provost Scholar recipients hear at the time of their admission offer.
Are the merit awards renewable?
The tuition awards are. The W&M Scholars Award renews annually for up to eight semesters as long as the student stays enrolled, and the Provost award runs up to four years. Monroe funding works differently, as research stipends rather than a yearly tuition discount.
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/merit/
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/standardizedtesting/
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/costs-aid/in-state/pell-grant-guarantee/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
This is where W&M’s money actually lives. Three awards, all decided by the admission office, all with no separate application. The 1693 Scholars Program is the headline: roughly eight or nine students per entering class, worth in-state tuition, fees, housing and dining, plus a stipend for independent projects. The William & Mary Scholars Award covers at least full in-state tuition and fees and renews for up to eight semesters. The Provost Scholar Award is $10,000 a year for a select group of out-of-state students.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at W&M?
| Aid Type | Stacks? | W&M Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| W&M Scholars Award | Yes, with a ceiling | W&M says it combines with other scholarships and aid, but the total of all awards in any year cannot exceed the university-determined full cost of education. |
| 1693 Scholars | Treat as a package | It already covers tuition, fees, housing and dining at the in-state value. W&M does not publish stacking rules for it, so ask before assuming anything adds on top. |
| Provost Scholar Award | Not published | $10,000 a year for out-of-state students. W&M does not state how it interacts with other institutional awards. Get the answer in writing from financial aid. |
| Need-based grants | Usually | Need-based money fills what merit does not cover. File the FAFSA and the CSS Profile on time or you are not guaranteed grant consideration. |
| Outside scholarships | Report them | W&M notes that outside money can reduce your financial aid eligibility, because it counts as a resource against need. |
| St Andrews Joint Degree | Partial gap | The W&M Scholars Award will not pay St Andrews tuition above the regular in-state tuition and fee amount. |
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What is the deadline for these awards?
There is no separate scholarship deadline. Consideration comes from the first-year application, so the operative dates are November 1 for Early Decision I and January 5 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
How selective is the 1693 Scholars Program?
Very. About 200 students become semi-finalists, roughly 15 finalists are flown in for an April weekend on campus, and nine were selected for the 2026 cohort. Finalists tend to rank in the top 5% of their class and, if they submit scores, land above 1500 on the SAT or above 33 on the ACT. W&M notes that students who apply without scores are still reviewed.
What does the 1693 selection process involve?
Semi-finalists write one additional essay of 200 to 300 words and record a video of three minutes or less. Finalists do a virtual interview with two alumni and a presentation to a faculty panel. The essay and video prompts change each year and are written by current scholars.
Who wins the William & Mary Scholars Award?
W&M gives top consideration to academic strength, to first-generation and limited-income students, and to students who have shown they can bridge different perspectives. Preference goes to Virginia residents, with a handful of awards for out-of-state students. School counselors can nominate candidates, though nomination is not required.
Is W&M a Stamps Scholarship partner?
Yes. The Stamps partnership runs through the 1693 Scholars Program, so W&M’s Stamps recipients are Stamps 1693 Scholars.
Does applying Early Decision help my scholarship odds?
W&M states that both Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants are automatically considered for all merit awards. Early Decision is binding, so decide based on fit and on whether you can commit before comparing aid offers, not on a merit edge.
Do the essays matter?
They matter more here than at a stats-driven school, because a committee is reading your whole file. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help students organize achievements before they write.
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/merit/
https://www.wm.edu/as/1693scholars/selectioninfo/
https://www.wm.edu/as/wmsure/wm-scholars/
Honors at William & Mary
W&M does not have an honors college, and families coming from states where the honors college is the whole affordability strategy should know that up front. There is no separate honors application, no honors scholarship pool and no honors housing wing you compete your way into as a senior in high school.
What W&M has instead is the James Monroe Scholars Program, which does most of the same work. Roughly 10% of accepted first-year students are named Monroe Scholars through the regular admission review. The benefit is research money rather than a tuition discount, plus the practical perks that usually come with an honors track.
Monroe Scholars: what you actually get
- Research funding: a $1,500 summer stipend after the first year, and a larger $4,000 stipend available during the sophomore or junior year. W&M’s main scholarship index lists the $4,000 figure on its own, so confirm both numbers with the Charles Center.
- Priority course registration as an entering first-year student, which at a school this size is worth real money in time to graduation.
- A special first-year housing option alongside other Monroe Scholars.
- Seminars and speaker events through the year.
Honors — FAQs (William & Mary)
Is there an honors college application?
No. There is no honors college. Monroe Scholar designation comes out of the regular admission review with no separate form.
Does Monroe Scholar status lower tuition?
No, and this trips people up. It is research funding and academic perks, not a tuition discount. If your student needs the bill to come down, that has to come from need-based aid or from the 1693, W&M Scholars or Provost awards.
Can a student hold Monroe status and another W&M award?
The Monroe stipend is paid as research money rather than applied against tuition, so it is not an either-or. Still ask financial aid how the stipend gets treated inside your package, because outside and institutional resources can interact with need-based aid.
Do out-of-state students get named Monroe Scholars?
Yes. The designation is based on admission review, not residency.
What does the research money actually get used for?
Students design their own projects. Past Monroe research has ranged from lab work to policy analysis, and several scholars have gone on to national awards like the Goldwater.
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/merit/
https://www.wm.edu/as/monroescholars/
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/
⭐ College Specialty
William & Mary is the second-oldest college in the country and about as far from a giant state school as a public university gets. Under 7,000 undergraduates, a 9 to 1 student-faculty ratio, and a reputation built on professors who actually teach the classes. W&M markets itself as a top-10 public for undergraduate teaching, internships and study abroad participation, and that teaching-first identity is the real product here.
Coastal & Marine Sciences through the Batten School and VIMS. The major launched in fall 2025 and was the first undergraduate coastal and marine sciences degree at a Virginia public university. Every student accepted into it receives full tuition support as a Stravitz Scholar plus a $5,000 research stipend, and the program is small on purpose. Juniors spend an immersion semester on the VIMS campus at Gloucester Point, about 30 minutes from Williamsburg, with a shuttle running between the two.
- Government and International Relations: W&M’s signature academic territory. The university houses the Global Research Institute and the TRIP project, which produces the international relations program rankings that Foreign Policy publishes. Students work on real research with faculty rather than reading about it.
- Business: the Raymond A. Mason School of Business handles undergraduate business majors. Note the supplemental credit-hour fee on Mason courses when you budget.
- Computing, Data Sciences & Physics: W&M’s first new school in 50 years, launched in 2025, pulling together applied science, computer science, data science and physics. The data science minor is now the most popular minor on campus, and a new Applied AI major is coming online. Students do not apply to the school from high school; second-year students in good standing enter it once they meet the major’s criteria.
- St Andrews Joint Degree Programme: a genuine outlier. Students split four years between Williamsburg and the University of St Andrews in Scotland and finish with a degree from both. Roughly 42 students enrolled in it in a recent class. Watch the cost, since the W&M Scholars Award will not cover St Andrews tuition above the in-state amount.
One practical note for families comparing schools: W&M reports that 92% of a recent graduating class was employed or in graduate school within six months. For a liberal arts and sciences campus this size, that outcome number is the argument.
🔗 Official William & Mary Links
Every link below was checked before this page was published. Use W&M’s own pages for final deadlines, award terms and cost figures, since those change on the university’s schedule and not ours.
-
Undergraduate Admissions:
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/ -
Tuition & Fees (full cost breakdown):
https://www.wm.edu/admission/tuition/ -
Net Price Calculators:
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/net-price-calculator/ -
Merit Awards for Incoming First-Year Students:
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/merit/ -
1693 Scholars Selection Information:
https://www.wm.edu/as/1693scholars/selectioninfo/ -
William & Mary Scholars Award:
https://www.wm.edu/as/wmsure/wm-scholars/ -
FAFSA & CSS Profile Filing Dates:
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/resources/announcements/fafsacss-profile-deadlines.php -
Pell Grant Guarantee (in-state students):
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/costs-aid/in-state/pell-grant-guarantee/ -
Department Awards & Other Scholarships:
https://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/types/scholarships/department-awards/ -
Coastal & Marine Sciences Major (Stravitz Scholars):
https://www.vims.edu/academics/wm_undergrad/major/ -
Standardized Testing Policy (superscoring, test-optional):
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/standardizedtesting/ -
Common Data Set (institutional data):
https://www.wm.edu/offices/ir/university_data/cds/
✅ Wrapping It Up
Here is the honest summary. If you are in Virginia, William & Mary is one of the best financial deals in the state: it typically meets 100% of demonstrated need for residents, Pell-eligible Virginians are guaranteed help covering at least tuition and fees, and the average family lands well under the sticker price. If you are out of state, W&M is a full-price school with a small chance of a large award and no waiver or reciprocity to fall back on.
Either way, the strategy is the same and it is short. Submit a strong first-year application by the deadline, because that application is the only scholarship application there is. File the FAFSA and the CSS Profile by the priority date for your round, because late filers are not guaranteed grant money. Then build your budget on the net price calculator rather than on a merit award that goes to eight or nine students a year.
And if your student is drawn to marine science, keep the Stravitz program on the radar. It is the one large piece of money still available after enrollment, and it rewards a student who plans two years ahead.
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