Oberlin College vs William & Mary

Oberlin College is the more selective of the two at 32%, versus 33% at William & Mary. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Oberlin College
Selective
32%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1430
Private · Ohio
William & Mary
Selective
33%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1480
Public · Virginia

Oberlin College vs William & Mary: the differences that matter

How Oberlin College and William & Mary stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Oberlin College and William & Mary are almost equally selective (32% vs 33%), so neither is a clear safety relative to the other. Your odds at each come down to fit, not headline difficulty.

The two also read applications a little differently. Oberlin College leans more on application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, while William & Mary puts more weight on class rank, standardized test scores. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Oberlin College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430 and William & Mary's is around 1480. Admitted students at William & Mary post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorOberlin CollegeWilliam & Mary
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Class rankconsideredimportant
Standardized test scoresconsideredimportant
Application essayvery importantimportant
Recommendationsvery importantimportant
Extracurricular activitiesvery importantconsidered
Talent / abilityvery importantconsidered
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Oberlin College or William & Mary harder to get into?

Oberlin College is harder to get into, with a 32% acceptance rate versus 33% at William & Mary.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Oberlin College and William & Mary?

Oberlin College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430, and William & Mary's is around 1480.

What are my chances at Oberlin College and William & Mary?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.