You open a financial aid offer, see several different totals, and wonder: “What will William & Mary actually cost my family?” The answer is not simply the tuition figure. Your residency, housing, meal plan, course selections and financial aid can all change the amount you pay.
For the 2026–27 academic year, William & Mary estimates a total annual cost of attendance of $48,638 for an in-state undergraduate and $75,652 for an out-of-state undergraduate. Those figures include both billed expenses and estimated everyday costs. Many students pay less after grants and scholarships, so the published price is a starting point rather than a prediction of your final bill.
William and Mary tuition for 2026–27
The largest difference in the College of William & Mary cost is whether the student qualifies for Virginia resident tuition. The university’s estimated annual undergraduate expenses are:
Virginia resident
- Tuition: $19,734
- Mandatory fees: $7,501
- Housing: $10,512
- Food: $7,134
- Total direct costs: $44,881
- Estimated indirect costs: $3,757
- Total estimated cost of attendance: $48,638
Out-of-state student
- Tuition: $46,177
- Mandatory fees: $8,072
- Housing: $10,512
- Food: $7,134
- Total direct costs: $71,895
- Estimated indirect costs: $3,757
- Total estimated cost of attendance: $75,652
These amounts come from William & Mary’s official 2026–27 tuition and fee estimates. Exact charges can vary based on the student’s program, housing assignment, meal plan and enrollment choices.
Why cost of attendance is different from your bill
Direct costs are expenses generally charged through the university. They include tuition, mandatory fees, campus housing and a university meal plan. Financial aid may be applied to these charges before the student receives the remaining balance.
Indirect costs are planning estimates rather than standard charges on the university bill. William & Mary’s 2026–27 allowance includes $900 for books and supplies, $785 for transportation, $2,000 for personal expenses and $72 in possible loan fees. A student may spend more or less depending on travel distance, textbook choices and personal habits.
This distinction matters when building a monthly budget. A financial aid package may appear to cover the billed balance while leaving the student responsible for transportation, supplies and other living expenses. Families should calculate both the semester bill and the cash the student will need throughout the year.
Additional fees to consider
Some students will face charges beyond the standard estimates. New students pay a one-time, nonrefundable Student Transition/Family Program fee of $522. Students are also charged a $150 graduation fee after filing their notice of candidacy.
Certain classes carry supplemental charges. Specified courses in the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics may cost an additional $250 per credit hour for students who enrolled in fall 2025 or later. Mason School of Business courses with a BUAD prefix also carry a $250-per-credit-hour supplemental fee. Applied music lessons and some laboratory, art and kinesiology courses may have separate charges.
Check the course details before registration, especially if your schedule includes several fee-based classes. A collection of smaller course fees can noticeably increase a semester bill.
How financial aid can reduce the cost
Financial aid may include scholarships, grants, student employment and loans. Grants and scholarships are generally the most valuable forms of aid because they normally do not require repayment. Work-study allows an eligible student to earn money through employment, while loans must be repaid with applicable interest.
William & Mary determines financial need by starting with the cost of attendance and subtracting the student’s Student Aid Index and outside resources, such as private scholarships. The Student Aid Index is calculated using information submitted through a financial aid application; it is not necessarily the amount a family will pay.
Incoming first-year and transfer students seeking full consideration for need-based aid generally must submit both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the CSS Profile. William & Mary’s FAFSA school code is 003705, and its CSS Profile code is 5115. Eligible Virginia students who cannot file the FAFSA may be able to use the Virginia Alternative State Aid application, along with the CSS Profile.
Available forms of assistance
- Federal Pell Grants for qualifying undergraduates with financial need
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants for students with exceptional need
- Virginia need-based grant programs for eligible state residents
- William & Mary institutional grants and need-based scholarships
- Merit scholarships for selected first-year applicants
- Federal work-study and other campus employment
- Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
- Parent or private education loans when additional financing is necessary
All incoming first-year students are automatically considered for William & Mary merit awards, so a separate merit scholarship application is generally not required. However, institutional need-based assistance depends on completing the required financial aid forms.
The university also provides a Pell Grant Guarantee for eligible Virginia residents. In-state, Pell-eligible undergraduates automatically receive scholarship assistance sufficient to cover at least tuition and mandatory fees, plus additional demonstrated financial need when applicable. Housing, food and personal expenses may still require separate resources depending on the aid package.
Focus on net price, not the sticker price
Your net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. It offers a more useful comparison than tuition alone because it reflects gift aid that does not normally have to be repaid.
When comparing colleges, separate grants and scholarships from loans and work-study. A $20,000 “financial aid package” containing $12,000 in grants and $8,000 in loans is financially different from a $20,000 grant award. Work-study should also be treated as future earnings rather than an automatic reduction of the initial semester bill.
Use a net price calculator before applying, and then review the official aid offer line by line. If household income has fallen because of job loss, divorce, major expenses or another significant event, contact the financial aid office about a special-circumstances appeal. An appeal does not guarantee more assistance, but it allows the university to review information that may not be reflected on the original application.
Ways to make William & Mary more affordable
- Submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the applicable priority deadline.
- Apply for private, community and employer-sponsored scholarships.
- Compare housing and meal-plan choices instead of assuming every option costs the same.
- Buy used books, rent materials or use library copies when practical.
- Ask whether outside scholarships will change other parts of the aid package.
- Borrow only what is necessary after grants, scholarships, savings and earnings.
- Calculate the full four-year cost, allowing for possible annual increases.
Families considering card payments should first review processing fees, interest and repayment timing. This guide to paying college tuition with a credit card explains why convenience can become expensive when a balance is not paid promptly.
What should you expect to pay?
For 2026–27, the published College of William & Mary cost ranges from an estimated $48,638 for an in-state undergraduate to $75,652 for an out-of-state undergraduate. Your real cost may be substantially lower after grants and scholarships—or higher if you select more expensive housing, incur course fees or have above-average travel and personal expenses.
The most reliable approach is to estimate the full cost, complete every aid application on time and compare the final net price with your available income, savings and manageable borrowing. That turns a large headline number into a practical plan for each semester.
