Williams began when Colonel Ephraim Williams, a colonel in the Seven Years’ War, bequeathed $9,297 to Massachusetts to start a free school to educate the sons of farmers. Ephraim Williams’ three stipulations for this school were: the school must be named after him; the town must be named after him; and the school must be located in MA.

At the time there was only one other institution of higher learning in MA, Harvard, and they lobbied to the government to block the charter. They argued that there were not enough students to support two schools in the state. Despite the lobby, Williams received its charter in 1793 and was founded on the indigenous homelands of the Mohican peoples. Today, their community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe. It is with gratitude that we are able to gather on this land as we commit to building a more equitable space for all.

When admitting students, we think about the range of talents, interests, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds that will make this a dynamic place to call home. We want creative thinkers, diverse opinions, and people who embrace intellectual challenges. People committed to bringing as much to the community as they’ll gain from it.

That commitment can be expressed in interesting and varied forms. Check out the “Apply” tab of our Admission website to see our deadlines and requirements for first-year and transfer applicants.

Because Williams has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country, you can afford to make the right choice for your education without taking on a big financial burden.

Williams meets 100 percent of demonstrated need, with no loans or work-study expectation. And we’re one of only a few colleges in the country that guarantees free textbooks and course materials to all students receiving financial aid.

College should be affordable, and applying for aid should be easy: contact us with financial aid questions at any time.