Affordability
We promise a W&M education that's within reach for all Virginia students.
We promise you won't make a better investment.
Since the W&M Promise was adopted in 2013, the average "net price" for Virginia families making less than $75,000 has dropped more than 20 percent, and the university consistently ranks as having one of the lowest net price averages for in-state students among public institutions nationally.
Among public universities in Virginia, we offer the lowest average net price for in-state students from families with incomes of $110,000 or less. William & Mary is also the fourth-lowest institution on a net-price basis across all income levels.
W&M boasts the third-highest four-year graduation rate among public universities in the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Navigator
Greater affordability for Virginia's middle-income families
In addition to need-based aid, W&M is committed to helping promising students – both in-state and out-of-state – access the distinct brand of education that William & Mary offers through a mix of scholarships and other financial aid support. To that end, the university has made scholarships a top priority in its fundraising campaign, and we aspire to raise $350 million to help remove financial barriers that prevent talented students from attending William & Mary.
*The definition of middle income is that developed by the TJ21-created Higher Education Advisory Committee – 400 percent of the federal poverty definition – or approximately $100,000 for a family of four. According to U.S. Census data, 77 percent of Virginia households have a combined average income of $100,000 or less.
We promise lower average student debt.
Because of new financial aid, the W&M Promise lowered the average annual borrowing and four-year cumulative debt average for new Virginia undergraduates with demonstrated need. In its first year, the W&M Promise lowered the maximum amount of loans included with an in-state financial aid package by 36 percent for families with an income between $40,000 and $60,000, and by 18 percent for all other families with financial need. Freshmen from Virginia families with a household income of less than $40,000 continued to receive financial aid covering 100 percent of their need with grants, not loans.
Comparison of Cumulative Four-Year Debt for Students with Need
| Income | Previous | W&M Promise | Debt Reduction |
| Less than $40,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| $40,000 - $60,000 | $22,000 | $14,000 | $8,000 |
| Greater than $60,000 | $22,000 | $18,000 | $4,000 |
All offers of financial aid will be determined after the student's aid application is fully reviewed by the financial aid office.
