Williams Home Page

Get to know Williams

Become a partner in the process of discovery, contributing to knowledge in a supportive environment. Students develop close relationships with their professors, peers and mentors, learning from and with each other through the open exchange of ideas.

We want students to make the most of their experience here, so we actively work to remove barriers—especially financial ones. We recently expanded our already generous financial aid by replacing loans and work-study requirements with grants that don’t have to be repaid—ensuring that a Williams education is truly affordable.

In all we do, we aim to be an inclusive learning community in which all can thrive. Our deep commitments to caring, collaboration and dialogue across differences transform how we relate to one another and to the world around us.

Play Video
96%
of students live on campus.
1st
ever intercollegiate baseball game, played against Amherst in 1859.
5
miles from campus to Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts.
$0
student admission to area museums.

Here students can explore a wide range of academic interests in the liberal arts, learning how courses from 60+ different areas of study interact with and influence one another.

Faculty in the sciences, arts and humanities are deeply committed to mentoring student researchers. More than half our students participate in research on campus and off—always supported by generous resources and funding.

Study a single topic in depth for an entire semester with a fellow student as your research partner and your professor as a guide. Up to 100 courses are offered at every level and in every discipline each year.

Take the entire month of January to stretch your intellectual and creative muscles. Choose a travel or internship opportunity, conduct independent research, or select from one of 150 eclectic offerings.

Inspiring Courses

A Williams education is the essence of cross-disciplinary study, developing your ability to think critically and creatively and to create new knowledge and ideas.

Chemistry, Environmental Studies

Environmental Fate of Organic Chemicals

Assessing the risks posed by organic chemicals to human, animal and ecosystem health

Chinese, Global Studies, Asian Studies

Chinese Societies Through the Lens of COVID-19

Exploring the politics, economy, public health and sociocultural issues of Asian societies

Economics, Political Science, Political Economy

Economic Liberalism and Its Critics

Considering major thinkers, mid-20th-century writers and modern public policy issues

Africana Studies, Dance, Music

African Dance and Percussion

Examining forms that embody continuity of tradition via performance, guest artists and field trips

Mathematics

The Little Questions

Thinking deeply of simple things—from combinatorics to elementary number theory

Art Studio, Environmental Studies

Governing Cities by Design

Re-imagining spaces so that all can thrive and coexist

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are inextricably linked to educational excellence. Williams is committed to closing the gap between our aspirations and the lived experiences of our people to ensure that we are a welcoming campus for all members of the community.

Sustain­ability at Williams

Williams is committed to the responsible stewardship of its campus environment and recognizes that its actions have impacts beyond its borders. Climate change and environmental degradation are defining challenges of our time, and Williams has a responsibility to confront these challenges through our teaching, research and actions.

40+
religious traditions supported by our campus chaplains
95
languages spoken, 15 languages taught on campus
73%
of Williams’ electricity comes from renewable sources
100%
of new buildings must meet LEED Gold sustainable building standards
_MG_5196 (1)

Health & Wellbeing

From joining the Outing Club for a hike to participating in a mindfulness meditation practice to taking an ice-skating class, students can nurture their bodies and souls—along with their minds—on campus and in the surrounding region.

Athletics

Our 32 NCAA Division III varsity programs complement a long, wide-ranging list of club sports and activities. With these options, students can pursue a healthy and active lifestyle while enjoying a balanced approach to their academic and extracurricular schedules.