The College of William & Mary is the second‑oldest institution of higher learning in the United States after Harvard. Founded in 1693 by a royal charter from King William III & Queen Mary II, it’s now a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. With an acceptance rate that hovers at 37%, The College of William & Mary is a competitive institution. 

That being said, what kind of GPA will your child need if they hope to gain admission to The College of William & Mary? You’ve come to the right place. We at Ivy Coach have combed through the past three years of data that William & Mary has self-reported to The Common Data Set Initiative about the academic profile of admitted students. We’re going to get into those numbers below. 

GPA Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2029

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of The College of William & Mary Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2029
4.0	88.9%
3.75-3.99	7.2%
3.5-3.74	3.0%
3.25-3.49	0.8%
3.0-3.24	0.1%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of The College of William & Mary Class of 2028:

GPA	Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2028
4.0	90.1%
3.75-3.99	6.9%
3.5-3.74	2.1%
3.25-3.49	0.6%
3.0-3.24	0.3%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of The College of William & Mary Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of The College of William & Mary Class of 2027
4.0	87.69%
3.75-3.99	9.65%
3.5-3.74	2.03%
3.25-3.49	0.49%
3.0-3.24	0.14%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

Further Context on the GPAs of William & Mary Students

If charts aren’t your speed, let’s talk through what those figures mean, one by one. Almost 90% of The College of William & Mary Class of 2029 came onto campus with perfect high school GPAs. That’s quite an impressive figure. 7.2% of the class was comprised of students who scored in the 3.75 to 3.99 bracket. And 3.0% of the class had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. 

You might be the parent of a child with a low GPA, in which case your eyes might be stuck like glue onto the 0.8% of the William & Mary Class of 2029 that had a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49. Or maybe even to the 0.1% of the class that had a GPA between 3.0 and 3.24. Those numbers are clearly outliers and make up an infinitesimal part of enrolled students. Moreover, we would wager that those students had other ways of getting in. They may be recruited athletes, for example. 

The College of William & Mary Class of 2028 saw a similar pattern. That year, 90% of incoming first-year students had perfect high school GPAs. That leaves 6.9% with GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99, and 2.1% with GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74. 

Finally, to round out our data, let’s discuss The College of William & Mary Class of 2027. The pattern holds strong there, with 87.69% of enrolled students stepping onto campus with perfect high school report cards. About 10% had GPAs in that 3.75 and 3.99 bracket. That leaves only 2% in the 3.5 and 3.74 rung. 

Can Students Get into William & Mary with a Low GPA?

It’s possible, but it’s unlikely. You saw those numbers: The College of William & Mary is a competitive school that enrolls students who tend to knock it out of the park on the report card front. About ninety percent of the past three admitted classes boasting perfect report cards is quite staggering. 

That being said, college admissions isn’t just a numbers game. (If it were, our jobs would be so much easier.) The College of William & Mary, like most other top institutions in the country, maintains a holistic admissions review process. Students are not just SAT scores and GPAs. William & Mary does not just want good test takers; they want movers and shakers. They want students who are going to contribute to campus research, lead student groups, shape campus conversation, and graduate into alumni who advance The College of William & Mary’s reputation nationally and globally. While high school GPA is one way to glimpse if a student has the ability to do all of this, it is not the only way. Admissions officers at The College of William & Mary also look at applicants’ personal statements, letters of recommendation, extracurricular background, interview, and any special talents, awards, or skills. 

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at The College of William & Mary

If you’re looking to enhance your child’s chances of getting into The College of William & Mary, we strongly recommend Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. This session provides insights into your child’s potential for admission to The College of William & Mary and devises a comprehensive plan for optimizing their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.