Financial Aid & Scholarships
A great value at an affordable price
Cost
A perennial "Best Value" according to Kiplinger, William & Mary works hard to keep the cost of our exceptional education affordable, and we commit our resources to need-based aid. A breakdown of the cost of attendance can be found on the Financial Aid website.
Financial Aid
If you have what it takes to be a W&M student, our Office of Financial Aid will help you find a way to pay for it. Through a combination of financial aid options including grants, loans and work study —we'll make sure you graduate with as little debt as possible.
To apply for financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA (Federal School Code: 003705) between January 1st and March 1st and the CSS Profile (School Code: 5115) by March 1st. The Financial Aid Office provides detailed instructions on this application process. Please note: the FAFSA for the upcoming fall term is not available until after January 1st.
Gateway William & Mary
W&M has a long-standing commitment to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of undergraduate Virginians. Gateway William & Mary is a financial aid plan that goes beyond this commitment. Undergraduate Virginians whose families earn less than $40,000 per year may qualify for these funds. Qualifying students will be given a financial aid package that covers most, if not all of their expenses through grants.
Scholarships
The Murray Scholars Program is William & Mary's most selective scholarship. Finalists typically rank in the top 1% of their class, score a 1500 and higher on the SAT Critical Reading plus Math (ACT equivalent: 34 or higher) and take the most demanding curriculum available to them. While some of the variables that influence Murray Scholars designations are quantitative, others are more subjective. These include students' application essays, extracurricular involvements, leadership, letters of recommendation, and evidence of intellectual engagement. In conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, faculty members will administer the selection process. All students who apply to William & Mary through Early Decision (Nov. 1 postmark deadline) or Regular Decision (Jan. 1 postmark deadline) will be reviewed for the Murray Scholars Program. The Murray Scholars Program will provide four students per year with extensive benefits, including full tuition, general fees and room and board annually for Virginia residents and the equivalent amount annually for non-Virginia residents.
The William & Mary Scholar Award is presented to students who are achieving at a high level having overcome significant adversity and/or students who would add to the diversity of our campus. Awards are worth the amount of in-state tuition each year. The William & Mary Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) supports William & Mary Scholars with workshops, guidance, and social opportunities designed to instill an interest in academic research. Every student who applies to William & Mary for admission is considered; there is not a separate application process or deadline.
The James Monroe Scholars Program is a designation offered each year to the top 10-15% of all admitted undergraduate students. All applicants are considered for this program and no separate application is needed. Notification is sent from the Office of Undergraduate Admission in March. Monroe Scholars receive a $3000 summer research stipend to explore an academic area of their choice. Other benefits to this program include: special housing option during freshman year, special consideration in the appointment of freshman advisors, priority course registration as an entering freshman and the invitation to take part in a series of additional seminars. If an enrolling William & Mary student is not offered the Monroe Scholar designation during the admission process, it is possible for the student to become a Monroe Scholar at the end of his or her freshman year. Rising sophomores who have done exceptionally well academically (typically a cumulative GPA of a 3.8) are invited to apply for seats in the Monroe Scholars Program through the Charles Center.
The Sharpe Community Scholars Program is available to all enrolling students. Sharpe Scholars are chosen for their demonstrated leadership potential, community involvement, and desire to explore important public questions and issues. They connect their academic studies to civic engagement through unique course offerings and community service projects.
W&M offers athletic scholarships to our varsity athletes. Applicants interested in athletic programs and athletic scholarships should contact the appropriate coach directly to begin the recruitment process.
