As the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States, the College of William & Mary has been admitting students since the 17th century. As is often the case with the nation’s oldest and most prestigious schools, William & Mary is highly selective — but not as selective as many of the other dinosaur schools out there. Indeed, William & Mary has carved out a niche as an alternative to the Ivy League, where students can still receive the full experience of a liberal arts education backed by a rich history and legacy of excellence without succumbing to the stress of a cutthroat admissions process.

The history of William & Mary’s acceptance rate is available online through their Common Data Set, stretching back all the way to the Class of 2002. Read on to discover how its acceptance rate has (or hasn’t!) changed over nearly three decades:

College of William & Mary Acceptance Rate Over 25+ Years

Admissions Cycle	College of William & Mary Class Year	Early Decision I and II Admission Rate	Regular Decision Admission Rate
2025-2026	Class of 2030	Not Reported	Not Reported
2024-2025	Class of 2029	49.22%	36.96%
2023-2024	Class of 2028	47.03%	32.72%
2022-2023	Class of 2027	45.48%	33.50%
2021-2022	Class of 2026	49.72%	37.00%
2020-2021	Class of 2025	49.07%	42.16%
2019-2020	Class of 2024	50.80%	37.68%
2018-2019	Class of 2023	49.22%	36.92%
2017-2018	Class of 2022	58.24%	35.92%
2016-2017	Class of 2021	51.91%	36.52%
2015-2016	Class of 2020	51.74%	34.46%
2014-2015	Class of 2019	50.47%	33.02%
2013-2014	Class of 2018	49.92%	33.21%
2012-2013	Class of 2017	47.18%	32.17%
2011-2012	Class of 2016	48.33%	34.57%
2010-2011	Class of 2015	49.72%	31.73%
2009-2010	Class of 2014	49.49%	33.51%
2008-2009	Class of 2013	53.42%	34.08%
2007-2008	Class of 2012	53.89%	33.68%
2006-2007	Class of 2011	45.55%	32.34%
2005-2006	Class of 2010	45.41%	31.03%
2004-2005	Class of 2009	50.16%	35.04%
2003-2004	Class of 2008	51.07%	34.33%
2002-2003	Class of 2007	47.71%	34.64%
2001-2002	Class of 2006	54.33%	37.42%
2000-2001	Class of 2005	53.60%	40.62%
1999-2000	Class of 2004	62.50%	44.93%
1998-1999	Class of 2003	57.29%	45.15%
1997-1998	Class of 2002	60.38%	45.15%
1996-1997	Class of 2001	67.85%	46.02%

We’ll provide some context before we unpack William & Mary’s unexpected data. Acceptance rates at elite institutions have been dwindling over the last three decades as more and more students apply for the same number of admissions slots. Across the Ivy League, for example, fewer than 10% of applicants have earned admission in recent cycles. 

While this trend is relatively ubiquitous among the top schools in the country, slightly less prestigious schools aren’t necessarily subject to the same trends. Case in point: William & Mary. Their acceptance rate has remained remarkably stable, hovering between 30% and 45% over the last 26 years. Just as other schools have been admitting a smaller and smaller proportion of students, this Williamsburg, Virginia-based institution has been admitting around the same number for quite some time.

We at Ivy Coach won’t even speculate as to why this is the case, but no matter what, it should be a promising sign for those who want to bypass the college admissions stress associated with applying to most other elite schools.

College of William & Mary Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics (Classes of 2030 — 2020)

William & Mary Class Year	Total Applications Received	Total Applications Accepted	Overall Acceptance Rate
Class of 2030	17,432	6,001	34.43%
Class of 2029	16,895	6,245	36.96%
Class of 2028	17,798	6,064	34.07%
Class of 2027	17,548	5,741	32.72%
Class of 2026	18,087	6,059	33.50%
Class of 2025	17,475	6,386	36.54%
Class of 2024	14,201	5,987	42.16%
Class of 2023	14,680	5,532	37.68%
Class of 2022	14,644	5,406	36.92%
Class of 2021	14,921	5,359	35.92%
Class of 2020	14,382	5,253	36.52%

William & Mary’s Class of 2030 in Historical Perspective

So, when all was said and done, a respectable 17,432 students applied to join the William & Mary Class of 2030, while only 6,001 of them, or 34.43%, were granted admission. None of these figures broke any records, nor were any of these statistics likely to be a disappointment to admissions officers at the College, as they weren’t particularly poor showings. If anything, they demonstrate that William & Mary has an enduring appeal that has yet to veer into the territory of being so competitive that the average college applicant hardly stands a chance at earning admission, making it somewhat of an anomaly among elite schools of its stature.

To put this year into perspective, the average applicant pool size over the last five years was 17,552, and the average acceptance rate over this same period was 34.34%.

The Demographics of William & Mary’s Class of 2030

According to a press release coming straight from the source itself, the Class of 2030 breaks down as follows:

“Of those with a class rank, 89% are in the top 10% of their class. The SAT middle-50% is 1420-1520, and the ACT middle-50% range is 33-35.” Our readers should note that these data represent students who opted to submit test scores, as William & Mary is test-optional. 

The report continues, “They represent 57 different countries and 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. After Virginia, the top 10 states represented include New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, Texas, Connecticut and Florida.”

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Acceptance to the College of William & Mary

When the data finally arrives for the Class of 2029, Ivy Coach’s famously accurate crystal ball predicts that there won’t be a significant dip or increase in acceptance at William & Mary. However, this doesn’t mean you should take for granted that your child will get in without a problem. After all, a 33% acceptance rate still means that two out of every three applicants are rejected (math majors here!). This is a lower acceptance rate than most schools across the United States!

However, by enlisting the help of Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers, you can significantly enhance your child’s chances of admission to William & Mary. Our approach focuses on developing a competitive singular hook for your child, a unique pursuit, passion, or cause that informs every aspect of their application and reassures admissions officers of their potential to make the most of their college experience.

To begin the journey towards securing your child’s admission to the College of William & Mary, fill out our complimentary consultation form. We’ll then be in touch with an outline of our services.