Williams vs Northwestern for economics: which is better for an undergrad interested in economics?

The biggest practical tradeoff is small liberal arts college intensity versus large research university breadth. Williams gives you very close access to professors, small discussion-based classes, and an economics department that is one of the school’s signature strengths. Northwestern gives you a broader university environment, more course variety across economics and related fields, and easier access to graduate-level resources, research centers, and nearby Chicago opportunities.

For pure undergraduate teaching in economics, Williams is exceptionally strong. Economics is one of the most popular and well-developed majors there, and the school’s tutorial-style and seminar-heavy culture can make the academic experience feel more personal and rigorous in a very direct way. If you want professors who know you well, classes that stay focused on undergrads, and a tight academic community, Williams has a real edge.

Northwestern’s advantage is scale and range. Its economics offerings are embedded in a major research university, so you get more specialization, more adjacent departments like math, statistics, political science, and policy, and more pathways into research or applied work. Being near Chicago also matters for internships, guest speakers, and exposure to finance, consulting, policy, and data-oriented work during the school year.

One thing that often matters for economics students is what kind of intellectual style you want. Williams can be a better place for students who want close reading, discussion, writing, and sustained faculty mentorship. Northwestern can be better for students who want a busier, more layered ecosystem with more people, more subfields, and more ways to connect economics to other disciplines.

If the question is which school offers the stronger overall undergraduate environment specifically for economics, I’d give Williams a slight academic edge for teaching quality and undergrad focus. I’d pick Northwestern only if you know you want the resources and scope of a major research university to shape your economics experience from the start.