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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.

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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.

Africana Studies, Sociology

Circa 1492: A Black Studies Perspective

Considering critiques from Black studies to examine the 1492 moment and its aftermath

Statistics

Introduction to Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Applying statistical methods to address questions that arise in medicine, public health, or biology

Computer Science

Foundations of Artificial Intelligence

Introducing the foundations of AI methodologies for advanced study of machine learning

English, Science and Technology Studies

Technologies of Friendship

Examining how writers across centuries and disciplines describe the tools and technologies of friendship

Theatre

Introduction to Playwriting

Writing plays that interact with identities and environments of the current times

Economics, Environmental Studies

Pollution and Labor Markets

Evaluating the impacts of pollution and regulation on human capital, labor supply, and productivity

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
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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.