We're Diverse
One college. Many voices.
Diversity at William & Mary means creating, sustaining and celebrating a vibrant academic and social community that represents the widest possible range of ideas and life experiences.
Imagine college as a choir. When was the last time you heard of a world-class, monotone choir? Instead, each different part—bass, tenor, alto and soprano—contribute to the magnificence of the whole. What would William & Mary be like if we only spoke with one voice and saw the world from a single point of view?
At W&M, we believe our differences are our greatest strength. By living, studying and forging lifelong friendships with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, we instinctively learn to think beyond our own narrow experience and approach challenges from a global perspective.
William & Mary students come from all 50 states and 43 foreign countries. They graduate from public schools, private schools and home schools. Some have deep religious beliefs and others believe deeply in basketball. But for all that’s different about them, they have two things in common: a shared passion for learning and a proven ability to succeed.
To ensure the growing diversity of our campus, William & Mary actively recruits top high school students from every geographic, racial and economic background. Twenty-five percent of the classes of 2012 and 2013 are students of color. The class of 2013 enrolled 55 international students and 151 first-generation students.
Thanks in part to our Gateway program—a four-year, no-loans financial aid package—a William & Mary education is now within reach of all qualified students. The grant, which amounts to over $50,000, covers all tuition and fees, and is earmarked for deserving Virginia students who might otherwise be unable to afford a W&M education.
The Center for Student Diversity and the Reves Center for International Studies celebrate the rich diversity of the W&M community through international arts and culture events, speaker series, film festivals and symposia.
The College recently sponsored a cross-cultural look at the legacy of the Jamestown colony hosted by radio broadcaster and author Tavis Smiley. The event, which took place at Phi Beta Kappa hall, featured a world-class panel of scholars including Cornel West and noted William & Mary alumni Cassandra Newby-Alexander, Ph.D. ’92 and Rex Ellis ’85, vice president of the historic area of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
For more information about multicultural life and diversity at W&M, contact a member of the Multicultural Recruitment Team.
