Admissions
Each year approximately 130 students are offered admission to Williamson College of the Trades.
Application Process
Once accepted, students receive a scholarship which results in no cost to each enrolled student for tuition and room and board for the three-year program. Learn more about the five-step application process.
Each year approximately 130 students are offered admission to Williamson College of the Trades. Admission is open to all qualifying young men, but special consideration is given to those who come from families of financial need and would otherwise not be able to afford to further their education.
Applying for admission may begin as early as August 1st between the junior and senior year of high school. In any case, it should be completed no later than December 7, 2026. To be considered, candidates must submit a completed application and attend an Applicant Day. At Applicant Day, candidates will be given instructions regarding additional application requirements (i.e. Interview Day, Family Financial Assessment, etc). Selection decisions are provided to all applicants in early March.
Admission Process
To be eligible for consideration for admission each applicant MUST do the following:
- Meet all Admissions criteria below.
- Submit all required application materials prior to December 7, 2026.
- Completed Online Application
- Copy of Birth Certificate (or Green Card)
- Copy of High School Transcript or proof of GED
- Complete Family Financial Screening to include submission of all required and applicable financial documents to include, but not limited to, Williamson Financial Questionnaire, IRS Tax Return Transcripts and W2 forms.
- Make a reservation online to attend an Applicant Day to tour campus and complete required enrollment tasks (Writing Sample and Math Diagnostic).
- All students that meet Williamson’s academic qualifications as outlined by the Academic Assessment Committee will be invited back for a required interview in February. Interviews will take place on one of the following dates: February 10, 2027, February 11, 2027, or February 12, 2027.
- Selections for the incoming class will be communicated on or around March 1, 2027.
- Attend a Williamson New Student/Financial Aid Workshop*
* to be completed after acceptance to Williamson
Admission is based on the following criteria:
General Requirements
Applicants must be 20 years of age or younger by June 1st before the fall semester of the year they wish to enter the college. Applicants must be male, permanent, legal residents of the United States (U.S. citizens or Green Card holders) and must be unmarried with no children. Applicants must be able to meet the physical demands of the college’s curriculum, which focuses on developing both a strong mind and body for work in the trades. Williamson admits students of any race, color, creed, religion, or ethnic background to educational programs or activities it operates. The college does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs or activities that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations.
Education
A high school diploma or GED is required. Candidates must provide their high school transcripts. Current high school students must include grades from their 9th through 11th years. Williamson College of the Trades evaluates the validity of each applicant’s high school credential to assure it is from an accredited or valid source.
Institutional Transcripts: Williamson’s Office of Enrollment Management will reference all high school transcripts obtained from respective candidates to a list of accredited secondary institutions. Questionable transcripts are forwarded to the Registrar for verification. The Registrar will compare the high school transcript with the list of valid nonpublic/private high schools available at the PA Department of Education: Listing of Schools, MD Approved Nonpublic Schools, and/or NJ School Directory.
Foreign School Transcripts: The Registrar evaluates foreign transcripts based on the American Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) guidelines, in consultation with the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Family Financial Condition
Preference is given to young men who would not otherwise be able to pursue a college education due to their family’s financial circumstances. All interested candidates may apply, but preference is given based on the results of a family financial evaluation conducted by a third-party service.
Academic Evaluation and Personal Interview
The evaluation of academic ability is determined via a composite of several factors, to include the evaluation of a candidate’s high school transcript, and performance on a Williamson Writing Sample and Mathematics Diagnostic Assessment conducted during Applicant Day. Invitations to an interview are based on the Academic Evaluation. The Selection Committee, which is comprised of faculty members, staff members and administrators, evaluates family income, academic ability, interview performance, and other application materials in order to make the final selections, which are presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.
Apply Online
I am a high school senior (or a high school graduate) who meets the age requirement and I’m ready to begin the application process for Fall of 2027.
