Is Williams or Claremont McKenna better for economics?

For economics specifically, Claremont McKenna often has the edge for students who want a very economics-focused undergraduate environment tied closely to policy, finance, consulting, and internship access. Econ is one of CMC’s signature strengths, and the school has a notably business-and-policy-oriented culture. Williams is also excellent in economics, but it tends to feel more academically broad, more purely liberal arts in tone, and a bit less preprofessional in day-to-day campus culture.

Claremont McKenna is especially appealing if you want economics surrounded by government, public policy, accounting, finance, and quantitative social science. The department is a major draw there, and the larger Claremont Consortium means you can cross-register and draw on resources beyond one small college. That setup can be valuable if you want variety in upper-level electives, research options, and a peer group where a lot of students are seriously engaged with markets, policy, and recruiting.

Williams fits students who want economics in a more classic liberal arts setting where the academic atmosphere is intensely intellectual but less centered on career outcomes from the start. Williams has a very strong econ department and excellent teaching. It is especially attractive if you want close faculty access, a campus culture with more balance across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, and an economics experience that feels less tied to one dominant preprofessional vibe.

For grad school preparation, both can work very well.

CMC is often the more targeted choice for a student already leaning toward economics as a professional pathway, while Williams is ideal for someone who wants top-tier economics inside a broader, more traditional liberal arts experience.